A variation in the component separation technique that preserves linea semilunaris: a study in cadavers and a clinical case.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the effect of the incision of the external oblique aponeurosis along the semilunaris in amount of tension present after the undermining of the anterior rectus sheaths. Forty fresh adult cadavers were studied and divided into two groups: group A (n=20) and group B (n=20). Traction indexes were compared in three situations: (1) before any aponeurotic undermining (similar on both groups); (2) after incision and undermining of the anterior rectus sheaths (similar on both groups) and (3) group A: after undermining of the external oblique muscles with the incision of their aponeurosis along the semilunaris and group B: undermining of a continuous layer of the anterior rectus sheaths and the external oblique aponeurosis, after release of the lateral aspect of the rectus sheaths. Significance of differences was assessed using non-parametric tests. There was a significant tension reduction after each stage of dissection in both supra- and infra-umbilical levels and on both groups. Comparisons between groups A and B did not show statistically significant differences in all sites and stages of the dissections. Therefore, both techniques showed similar aponeurotic tension reduction after each stage of the dissections in cadavers. (c) 2009 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.