Cadaver as an experimental model to study the effect of muscle advancement on the waistline

Abstract

The use of cadaver as an experimental model to evaluate the waistline after correction of rectus diastasis and the advancement of the external oblique muscles in cadavers were described on this article. Two parameters were used: the measurement of the abdominal circumference and the overlap of the two skin flaps formed by a xypho-pubic incision. With a previously marked area of undermining of the aponeurotic layer, measurements of the overlapped flaps were made in the following stages of dissection: 1) with the myo-aponeurotic layer intact; 2) after the correction of rectus diastasis; and 3) after the advancement of the external oblique muscle. The experimental model described showed to be feasible to demonstrate the effects of the correction of rectus diastasis and of the advancement of external oblique muscles on the waistline.