A reappraisal of the Pfannenstiel incision.

The postoperative morbidity of incisions used in retropublic 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.