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Sonographic diagnosis of abdominal wall relaxation
M Müller1, S N Truong, V Schumpelick
1Department of Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany.
Purpose:
We report our experience using sonography to diagnose abdominal wall relaxation.
Methods:
All patients with abdominal wall abnormalities from 1996 through 1997 underwent clinical and sonographic examination. Sonographic criteria for abdominal wall relaxation were continuity of the fascia (no gap), identification of all muscle layers, and decreased muscle thickness on the affected side. Fifty controls with no abdominal wall abnormalities were also examined for comparison.
Results:
We sonographically diagnosed 5 cases of abdominal wall relaxation in 625 patients examined. The diagnosis in these 5 cases was confirmed by MRI. Muscle thickness on the affected side decreased by a mean of 38%+/-6% compared with muscle thickness on the unaffected side and was significantly different (p< 0.0001) from the mean muscle thickness seen in the controls.
Conclusions:
Sonography enabled the diagnosis of abdominal wall relaxation with the advantages of saving time and money and not requiring use of a contrast medium. Based on our results, we recommend sonography as the first-line imaging modality in the diagnosis of abdominal wall relaxation.