Case series of a novel open plication supported by mesh (PSUM) - technique for symptomatic abdominal rectus diastasis repair with or without concomitant midline hernia: Early results and a review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Abdominal rectus diastasis (ARD), sometimes combined with abdominal wall midline hernia, is a common complaint in women after childbirth. To some individuals, ARD causes functional disability. Convincing data of the long-term results of ARD repair are lacking, especially when ARD is severe, and the optimal technique is undefined. In plastic surgery, the repair is often done with suture alone, but if a concomitant hernia exists, using a mesh is mandatory. This paper reports a novel surgical technique aimed at a reliable and minimally traumatic repair of ARD with or without midline hernia and a review of the literature of ARD repair. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During June 2013–April 2018, 37 consecutive patients with symptomatic ARD with or without concomitant midline hernia were operated on by using a narrow piece of a self-gripping mesh (n = 32) or the tails of the ventral patch (n = 5). The mesh was placed in between the plicated linea alba. The outcome and patient satisfaction in this pilot study were analyzed. RESULTS: A significant subjective improvement in body balance after surgery was reported by 34 patients (92%). During the mean follow-up of 13 months, there was only one partial recurrence of ARD. The complication rate was low, and patient satisfaction was good. CONCLUSION: According to the present study, selected patients with severe lack of muscle control and/or back pain benefit from ARD repair. The minimally traumatic PSUM mesh augmentation seems a promising method for the repair of ARD.