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.