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A Reappraisal of the Pfannenstiel Incision
Author(s) -
GRIFFITHS DAVID A.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1976.tb06683.x
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , inguinal canal , incidence (geometry) , transverse plane , inguinal hernia , hernia , anatomy , physics , optics
Summary The postoperative morbidity of incisions used in retropubic prostatectomies was examined. 350 patients with vertical midline incisions were compared with 411 patients with transverse or Pfannenstiel incisions. There was a significantly increased incidence of postoperative inguinal hernias in the group of patients who had had transverse incisions. The possible reasons for this were discussed. It was concluded that the normal architecture of the inguinal canal was deformed and weakened by extra‐wide transverse incisions. I would like to thank past and present surgeons of the United Oxford Hospitals, and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospitals for allowing me to include details of patients under their care.