Advancement flap umbilicoplasty after abdominal wall closure: Postoperative results compared with normal umbilical anatomy

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Umbilical reconstruction frequently is an adjunct used after repair of congenital abdominal wall defects. The authors describe a new technique of umbilicoplasty and compare their results with normal neonatal umbilical anatomy. Methods: After fascial closure, 6 newborn infants with either gastroschisis (n = 3) or omphalocele (n = 3) underwent umbilicoplasty performed by advancing bilateral skin flaps including creation of an umbilical skin collar. The umbilical collar height, circumference, and distance from the xiphoid with respect to the pubis (ratio of xiphoid-umbilicus distance to xiphoid-pubis distance or XU:XP) were recorded and referenced to normal umbilical anatomy in additional 28 infants (24 to 40 weeks gestation [mean, 33.2 weeks] and age 2 to 131 days [mean, 26.5 days]). Results: After umbilicoplasty, all infants had a near-normal-appearing umbilicus (collar height, 0.75 ± 0.25 cm and circumference, 5.24 ± 1.20 cm) compared with normal umbilical anatomy (collar height, 4.36 ± 1.32 cm and circumference, 1.03 ± 0.38 cm). However, after umbilicoplasty, the neoumbilicus was positioned more cephalad (XU:XP = 0.53 ±.05) compared with normal (mean XU:XP, 0.67 ± 0.07). The only complication encountered was a small dehiscence of the superior aspect of the abdominal wound. Conclusions: Closure of abdominal wall defects with simultaneous umbilicoplasty provides a cosmetically pleasing result. When performing umbilicoplasty, attempt should be made to position the neoumbilicus as inferior as possible, optimally at two thirds the distance from the xiphoid to the pubis. J Pediatr Surg 36:1168-1170. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.