Diastasis recti (Deviation of the rectus muscles)
Diastasis recti is a separation of the abdominal rectus muscle of more than 2 cm at the level of the belly button. It is diagnosed and treated by ZweiChirurgen at our “Competence centre for hernia surgery” in Switzerland in Basel, Zurich and Liestal.
This muscle separation produces a longitudinal bulge of the abdominal wall in the midline. Especially women after pregnancy are affected by this condition. About 2/3 of woman are suffering from diastasis recti following childbirth. In 1/3 of the cases the diastasis recti persists despite intensive physiotherapy. Frequent symptoms are back pain, trunk instability, abdominal wall muscle pain and sometimes urine incontinence. In contrast to widespread assumptions, it can only be cured with surgery. Physiotherapy can only help to reduce the symptoms of small case.
The concept of the surgical treatment consists of anatomical restoration of the abdominal wall. Usually, the rectus muscles are re-adapted using suture, in many cases a mesh is placed behind the rectus muscle for reinforcement of the suture. In large cases of diastasis recti women complain about cosmetic problems too (e.g. excessive skin folds, wrinkles, stretch marks). Here, and abdominalplasty can additionally be done. In such cases we perform the operation together with our trusted plastic surgeon Dr. med. Rik Osinga.
- Physiotherapy
- ELAR operation (endoscopic linea-alba reconstruction)
- Plastic surgery (e.g. abdominoplasty)
- MILOS (Mini Less Open Surgery)
Hospital stay: 2—4 days
- Normal situation
- Diastasis recti (Straight abdominal muscles diverged)
- Condition after surgery