The retroperitoneal interfascial planes: current overview and future perspectives

Recently, the concept of interfascial planes has become the prevalent theory among radiologists for understanding the retroperitoneal anatomy, having replaced the classic tricompartmental theory. However, it is a little known fact that the concept remains incomplete and includes embryological errors, which have been revised on the basis of our microscopic study. We believe that the concept not only provides a much clearer understanding of the retroperitoneal anatomy, but it also allows further development for diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal injuries and diseases, should it become an accomplished theory. We explain the history and outline of the concept of interfascial planes, correct common misunderstandings about the concept, explain the unconsciously applied therapeutic procedures based on the concept, and present future perspectives of the concept using our published and unpublished data. This knowledge could be essential to acute care physicians and surgeons sometime soon.