The role of component separation in the treatment of severe diastasis recti abdominis: a new indication for a known technique.

[OBJECTIVE] Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle (DRAM) is a widening of linea alba, it also could be accompanied by abdominal bulging. DRAM is often a cause of quality-of-life impairment, especially when it is of large dimensions. Repair with direct rectus plication is the most common treatment for Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA), but it can result in high recurrence rates. The authors aimed to show their results in applying the component separation technique in wide DRA cases.

[PATIENTS AND METHODS] From January 2015 to July 2018, 43 patients with DRA ≥ 10 cm at 3 cm over the umbilicus have been treated with component separation technique associated to panniculectomy. A biologic mesh was positioned onlay in cases of weakness along the semilunaris lines.

[RESULTS] DRA repair was achieved in all cases. All patients completed the 1-year follow-up and no recurrence nor major complication were registered. Minor complications were observed in 12 (27.9%) cases.

[CONCLUSIONS] This is the first study describing the component separation technique use in cases of DRA without hernia, associated to abdominoplasty surgery. Preliminary results were encouraging, but larger series are required.