Clarifying the Impact: Does Diastasis Recti Correction Truly Alleviate Low Back Pain?

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Abdominal Wall Reconstruction
• Musculoskeletal Health

Background:

• Low back pain (LBP) is a common issue impacting quality of life, often linked to diastasis recti abdominis (DRA), especially in postpartum women.
• Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) involves separation of the abdominal muscles, contributing to functional deficits and pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of lipoabdominoplasty combined with rectus muscle plication in alleviating LBP.
• To assess the impact of this surgical procedure on core muscle function and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in women diagnosed with DRA.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study enrolled 42 female patients with DRA (2-10 cm separation) undergoing lipoabdominoplasty with rectus plication.
• Exclusion criteria included high BMI (≥35 kg/m²), hernias, previous abdominal surgery, and significant comorbidities.
• Pain (Numerical Rating Scale) and function (BODY-Q) were assessed preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months post-surgery.

Main Results:

• Mean LBP scores significantly decreased from 5.6 preoperatively to 2.3 at 12 months post-surgery (p < 0.001).
• Core physical function scores (BODY-Q) improved significantly from 56.2 to 75.5 (p < 0.001).
• Patient-reported physical symptoms scores also showed significant improvement, increasing from 58.6 to 78.3 (p < 0.001), with a minor complication rate of 11.9%.

Conclusions:

• Lipoabdominoplasty with rectus plication demonstrates significant efficacy in reducing LBP among women with DRA.
• The procedure leads to substantial improvements in core muscle function and overall health-related quality of life.
• These findings highlight the functional advantages of the surgical intervention, extending beyond aesthetic outcomes.