Incisional Hernia Effect on Abdominal Neuromuscular Properties in the Rat

Abstract

Midline hernias complicate approximately 11% of abdominal surgeries. Maladaptive changes in the abdominal neuromusculature may contribute to hernia persistence or recurrence. Both injury and denervation negatively affect muscle contractile properties immediately following muscle lesion, but it is unclear whether abdominal muscles are affected once wound healing has stabilized (after 28 days). The authors studied the contractile properties of specific abdominal muscles and subsequently immunohistologically labeled the muscles for fiber denervation. They hypothesized that, compared with sham-operated animals, abdominal muscles from rats with an abdominal hernia have a reduced capacity to produce force and exhibit a population of denervated muscle fibers. Additionally, since skeletal muscle weakens and muscle fiber denervation increases with increased age, they tested the interaction effect of age with surgery.