Background Urinary incontinence (UI), particularly stress urinary incontinence (SUI), is a prevalent condition that significantly impacts the quality of life, especially in women. Abdominal diastasis recti, a separation of the rectus abdominis muscles, have been increasingly recognized as a contributing factor to UI due to its impact on core stability and intra-abdominal pressure regulation. Objective This study aims to explore the pathophysiological connection between diastasis recti and UI and to evaluate the effectiveness of diastasis correction during abdominoplasty in alleviating UI symptoms. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 100 female patients with abdominal diastasis and SUI who underwent abdominoplasty with diastasis repair. Preoperative and postoperative UI severity was assessed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and pelvic floor muscle strength was measured via perineometry. Statistical analysis was performed to compare preoperative and postoperative outcomes. Results Postoperative outcomes demonstrated a significant reduction in ICIQ-SF scores (17.2 ± 4.8 to 6.8 ± 3.3, p < 0.01), a decrease in daily UI episodes (4.6 ± 1.5 to 1.1 ± 0.6, p < 0.01), and an improvement in pelvic floor strength (13.2 ± 3.4 mmHg to 18.5 ± 4.7 mmHg, p < 0.05). These findings indicate that diastasis recti repair restores core stability, alleviates pelvic floor strain, and significantly improves UI symptoms. Conclusion Diastasis recti correction during abdominoplasty offers substantial functional benefits beyond esthetic improvements, particularly in reducing UI symptoms. These results underscore the importance of considering diastasis repair as part of a comprehensive treatment approach for patients with concurrent abdominal wall dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings and explore long-term outcomes. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors <a href="http://www.springer.com/00266">www.springer.com/00266</a>

Urinary Incontinence and Abdominal Diastasis: A Detailed Analysis and Surgical Outcome in 100 Patients Undergoing Abdominoplasty

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年10月27日

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Agostino Bruno,
Mauro Barbera

摘要

Background

Urinary incontinence (UI), particularly stress urinary incontinence (SUI), is a prevalent condition that significantly impacts the quality of life, especially in women. Abdominal diastasis recti, a separation of the rectus abdominis muscles, have been increasingly recognized as a contributing factor to UI due to its impact on core stability and intra-abdominal pressure regulation.

Objective

This study aims to explore the pathophysiological connection between diastasis recti and UI and to evaluate the effectiveness of diastasis correction during abdominoplasty in alleviating UI symptoms.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 100 female patients with abdominal diastasis and SUI who underwent abdominoplasty with diastasis repair. Preoperative and postoperative UI severity was assessed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and pelvic floor muscle strength was measured via perineometry. Statistical analysis was performed to compare preoperative and postoperative outcomes.

Results

Postoperative outcomes demonstrated a significant reduction in ICIQ-SF scores (17.2 ± 4.8 to 6.8 ± 3.3, p < 0.01), a decrease in daily UI episodes (4.6 ± 1.5 to 1.1 ± 0.6, p < 0.01), and an improvement in pelvic floor strength (13.2 ± 3.4 mmHg to 18.5 ± 4.7 mmHg, p < 0.05). These findings indicate that diastasis recti repair restores core stability, alleviates pelvic floor strain, and significantly improves UI symptoms.

Conclusion

Diastasis recti correction during abdominoplasty offers substantial functional benefits beyond esthetic improvements, particularly in reducing UI symptoms. These results underscore the importance of considering diastasis repair as part of a comprehensive treatment approach for patients with concurrent abdominal wall dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings and explore long-term outcomes.

Level of Evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266