title: Use of the anterior rectus sheath for abdominal wall reconstruction: a study in cadavers.
abstract: Our aim was to evaluate the amount of tension present after incision and undermining of the anterior rectus sheaths and the external oblique muscles in 20 fresh adult cadavers. Resistance to traction of the anterior and posterior rectus sheaths towards the midline was measured at three stages of dissection: before any aponeurotic undermining; after incision and undermining of the anterior rectus sheaths; and after incision and undermining of the external oblique muscles associated with the previous dissection. Significance of differences was assessed using non-parametric tests. There was a significant reduction in tension in the anterior and posterior sheaths on both levels after each stage of dissection. The incision and undermining of the anterior rectus sheaths and the external oblique muscles promoted a progressive reduction in tension at the aponeurotic edges of the abdominal wall.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. drmbarbosa@ig.com.br
authors.forename: Marcus Vinícius Jardini
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Fabio Xerfan
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Nahas
authors.forename: Elvio Bueno
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Natalia Alinda Montecinos
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ayaviri
authors.forename: Yara
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Juliano
authors.forename: Lydia Masako
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000601:surgery