Maximum forces acting on the abdominal wall: experimental validation of a theoretical modeling in a human cadaver study.

Incisional hernias following median laparotomy have a high incidence and recurrence rate after repair, so that a better understanding of the linea alba biomechanics is desirable. The mechanical stress exerted on the linea alba in living humans is primarily generated by the musculature. In this human cadaver study, intraabdominal pressure was simulated by insertion of a balloon that was increasingly filled to maximal pressures of 200 mbar. The related forces acting transversely on the linea alba at maximum pressure were found to be between 41.6 and 52.2N/cm (mean=45.9N/cm), which is in agreement with a recent modeling of the related forces.