Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Onlay Mesh Abdominoplasty in Obese Multiparous Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Rectus Diastasis

Abstract

Background: Women with multiple pregnancies often experience abdominal protrusion and/or a lax abdominal wall. Various open surgical techniques have been developed to address rectus diastasis in abdominoplasty, ranging from suture plication to mesh reinforcement. This study aims to compare the clinical and radiological changes between traditional abdominal plication and the addition of non-absorbable mesh for rectus muscle (RM) diastasis repair in terms of function, postoperative outcome, and recurrence.

Patients and method: This prospective retrospective study involved 63 women who underwent cosmetic tummy tuck surgery and met certain eligibility criteria. Patients with only mild diastasis recti, midline hernia, contraindications for major surgery, recent smoking history, or refusal of mesh augmentation were excluded. Clinical examination for abdominal protrusion or bulging and CT imaging was performed to check for recurrence of diastasis recti. The study included 33 patients who underwent mesh repair and 30 who underwent traditional abdominal plication. Follow-up was conducted after 1 year using CT and a questionnaire to assess various factors compared to preoperative measurements, with overall satisfaction rated on a 10-point Likert scale.

Results: There was no significant difference in demographic data between the two groups. Patients who underwent mesh repair had a slightly longer hospital stay and drain duration. The average waist circumference decreased in both groups without any statistically significant difference. Objective CT showed significant reductions in both groups in inter-rectus distance, RM width and circumference, and intra-abdominal circumference compared to preoperative values. All patients expressed satisfaction with scar quality and umbilicus aesthetics, and no recurrence was detected either clinically or radiologically during the follow-up period.

Conclusion: Comprehensive preoperative assessment and imaging techniques like ultrasound and CT scans allow surgeons to detect postpartum changes in the abdominal wall. Mesh reinforcement may be indicated for diastasis above 4 cm in obese multiparous females. Thorough preoperative evaluation permits customized surgical plans to optimally restore abdominal wall anatomy and function.

Level of evidence iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors at www.springer.com/00266 .

Keywords: Abdominoplasty; Hernia; Mesh repair; Obese multiparous; Rectus diastasis.