title: Evaluation of the long-term stability of sheath plication using absorbable sutures in 51 patients with diastasis of the recti muscles:  an ultrasonographic study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rectus sheath plication within abdominoplasty is a standard treatment for diastasis of the recti muscles. There are questions regarding the efficacy and long-term stability of the correction of rectus diastasis and whether absorbable sutures work as well as nonabsorbable sutures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a case-control study to assess the outcomes of recti muscle diastasis correction with absorbable suture. The authors assessed the outcomes by physical and ultrasonographic examinations and a patient questionnaire, which asked about the number of pregnancies and the types of deliveries, other abdominal operations before or after the abdominoplasty, and the interval of time required to return to full activity. During the examination, the interrecti distances were measured at three levels: halfway between the xiphoid and umbilicus, just above the umbilicus, and halfway between the umbilicus and the pubis. The same examination was performed on a control group of nulliparous women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors examined a group of 51 patients aged 25 to 64 years (mean, 41 years). The time interval between the operation and the ultrasonographic examination was 12 to 41 months (mean, 20.8 months). There was no statistically significant difference between the studied group and the control group with respect to their interrecti distances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rectus sheath plication using absorbable sutures in patients with diastasis of the recti muscles is a reliable method that maintains the long-term stability of the abdominal wall.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, II.
authors.affiliation: Prague, Czech Republic From the Departments of Plastic Surgery and Radiology, Bulovka Hospital, and the Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Charles University in Prague.
authors.forename: Ondrej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mestak
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kullac
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mestak
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nosek
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krajcova
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sukop
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery; D061645:Abdominoplasty; D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013537:Sutures; D014463:Ultrasonography