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Clinical Trial
. 2002 May;99(5 Pt 1):745-50.
doi: 10.1016/s0029-7844(02)01957-9.

Pfannenstiel versus Maylard incision for cesarean delivery: A randomized controlled trial

Pierre Ludovic Giacalone  1 , Jean Pierre Daures, Jacques Vignal, Christian Herisson, Bernard Hedon, François Laffargue
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Pfannenstiel versus Maylard incision for cesarean delivery: A randomized controlled trial

Pierre Ludovic Giacalone et al. Obstet Gynecol. 2002 May.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the Pfannenstiel incision with transverse muscle-cutting Maylard incision in women who had cesarean delivery.

Methods: Patients were assigned randomly to a Pfannenstiel or Maylard incision. Postoperative treatment was similar for each group. Surgical characteristics, complications, postoperative pain (visual analog scale, analgesic use), and related quality of life (1- and 3-month self-administered questionnaires) were analyzed. Abdominal wall muscle recovery was compared objectively by dynamometer.

Results: Fifty-four women had a Pfannenstiel incision and 43 had the Maylard incision. There were no differences in intraoperative characteristics, postoperative morbidity, or pain. Women's responses to the Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire at 1 and 3 months postoperatively and clinical and isokinetic testing for abdominal wall strength were similar between the two groups.

Conclusion: Transecting the rectus muscle was no more deleterious than the Pfannenstiel incision. There was no difference in objectively measured abdominal wall strength.

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