Is it possible to repair diastasis recti and shorten the aponeurosis at the same time?
BACKGROUND
Abdominal wall deformity secondary to pregnancy is multidirectional. Plication of the anterior rectus sheath is the most widely used technique for correction of this condition. However, it would be desirable to simultaneously perform the transverse and longitudinal repair of this deformity. The aim of this study was to assess changes in the length of the musculoaponeurotic layer after diastasis recti repair using triangular mattress sutures.


METHODS
Thirty-one women with Nahas' type III/A deformity were divided into two groups: the triangular mattress suture (TS) group and the continuous suture (CS) group. All patients underwent conventional abdominoplasty and diastasis recti repair with medial longitudinal plication performed between two metal clips. The two types of suture were used in both groups. In the TS group, after a CS was performed and removed, TSs were used and maintained in place. In the CS group, the order of suture placement was reversed. The distance between clips was measured before and immediately after suturing and at 3 weeks and 6 months postoperatively using plain abdominal radiographs. Statistical analysis was conducted using Friedman's analysis of variance and Wilcoxon's test.


RESULTS
The use of TSs significantly reduced the length of the aponeurosis compared with both the intraoperative situation without suture (P<0.001) and the use of CS (intraoperatively and 6 months after surgery; P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The repair of diastasis recti using TSs resulted in vertical shortening of musculoaponeurotic layer immediately after the procedure and in the long term.


METHODS
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Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 715, 4o. andar, São Paulo, CEP 04024-002, Brazil.
Pamella
P
Veríssimo
Fábio Xerfan
FX
Nahas
Marcus Vinicius Jardini
MV
Barbosa
Heitor Francisco
HF
de Carvalho Gomes
Lydia Masako
LM
Ferreira
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D061645:Abdominoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013718:Tensile Strength; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult