Effect of transversus abdominis release on core stability: Short-term results from a single institution

Transversus abdominis release is an increasingly used procedure in complex abdominal wall reconstruction. The transversus abdominis muscle is a primary stabilizer of the spine, yet little is known regarding the effect of transversus abdominis release on core stability, back pain, or hernia-specific quality of life. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of complex abdominal wall reconstruction using transversus abdominis release on patient quality of life and core stability function.

All patients undergoing complex abdominal wall reconstruction requiring transversus abdominis release from June 2016 through October 2016 at our institution were eligible for study inclusion. Back and hernia quality-of-life measures, including the Quebec Back Pain Scale and the Hernia Quality of Life Survey (HerQLes), in addition to patient core stability, as measured using the prone test and the Sahrmann Core Stability Test, were collected at the preoperative evaluation and at 6 months after surgery. Student's t test was used to determine the effect of complex abdominal wall reconstruction on quality of life and core stability.

Twenty-one patients completed the preoperative and 6-month postoperative evaluations. Back pain scores significantly improved postoperatively overall and in each of the 6 subcategories measured using the Quebec Back Pain Scale (P = .001). There was also a statistically significant improvement in abdominal wall function as reflected by Hernia Quality of Life Survey scores (P < .001). There was no statistically significant difference in core stability as reflected in the average prone score (P = .6) or the Sahrmann Core Stability Test average score (P = .4).

Abdominal wall reconstruction with transversus abdominis release leads to improved back pain and hernia quality of life and does not appear to negatively affect core stability in the short term.