Periumbilical Anatomy of Scarpa's Fascia: Rationale Behind a "Modified Scarpa's" Abdominal Closure Technique

Background Intraoperative observation of Scarpa's fascia (SF) has suggested attenuation in the periumbilical region. This study's purpose was to objectively evaluate SF anatomy in the periumbilical region and assess clinical outcomes of a novel, modified SF closure technique of transverse abdominal wall incisions that only reapproximates SF where it is definitively present. Methods Women were identified who had undergone abdominal magnetic resonance (MR) angiography before their abdominal-based autologous breast reconstruction that used the modified SF closure technique. Statistical analysis of SF presentation on the MR images was performed. Intraoperative measurements from dissected panniculectomy specimens were used to validate MR analysis. Donor site complications were recorded in patients undergoing modified SF closure. Results Sixty-six patients were included in the retrospective MR imaging analysis; this revealed an average attenuation of SF of 4.7 cm (SEM = 0.25 cm), 4.5 cm (SEM = 0.23 cm), 4.6 cm (SEM = 0.23 cm), and 4.2 cm (SEM = 0.22 cm) to the left of, right of, cranial to, and caudal to the umbilicus, respectively. The mean surface area of radiologic SF absence was 56.3 cm2 (SEM = 3.57 cm2). There was a significant difference in SF presentation based on patient age (P = 0.013) and body mass index (P = 0.005). Five of the 66 patients (7.6%) experienced abdominal closure site complications. Conclusions This study objectively confirms that there is attenuation of SF in the periumbilical region, describes a novel SF closure technique, and provides evidence to support its adoption when closing transverse abdominal wall incisions.