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Abdominal muscle function and incisional hernia: a systematic review

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Abstract

Purpose

Although ventral incisional hernia (VIH) repair in patients is often evaluated in terms of hernia recurrence rate and health-related quality of life, there is no clear consensus regarding optimal operative treatment based on these parameters. It was proposed that health-related quality of life depends largely on abdominal muscle function (AMF), and the present review thus evaluates to what extent AMF is influenced by VIH and surgical repair.

Methods

The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for articles following a systematic strategy for inclusion.

Results

A total of seven studies described AMF in relation to VIH. Five studies examined AMF using objective isokinetic dynamometers to determine muscle strength, and two studies examined AMF by clinical examination-based muscle tests.

Conclusion

Both equipment-related and functional muscle tests exist for use in patients with VIH, but very few studies have evaluated AMF in VIH. There are no randomized controlled studies to describe the impact of VIH repair on AMF, and no optimal surgical treatment in relation to AMF after VIH repair can be advocated for at this time.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Digestive Disease Center, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400, Copenhagen NV, Denmark

    K. K. Jensen & L. N. Jorgensen

  2. Department of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Bispebjerg Hospital and Centre of Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400, Copenhagen NV, Denmark

    M. Kjaer

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Bispebjerg Hospital and Centre of Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400, Copenhagen NV, Denmark

    M. Kjaer

Authors
  1. K. K. Jensen
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  3. L. N. Jorgensen
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Correspondence to K. K. Jensen.

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Jensen, K.K., Kjaer, M. & Jorgensen, L.N. Abdominal muscle function and incisional hernia: a systematic review. Hernia 18, 481–486 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-014-1242-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-014-1242-8

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