Prune belly syndrome: modified Monfort abdominoplasty with a horizontal scar and a dermal layer

Abstract

Prune belly syndrome is a rare congenital disease occurring in 1/40,000 births, mostly in male patients. Abdominal hypoplasia has aesthetic and functional consequences on breathing, intestinal transit, and stature. Thus, the goal of the surgical treatment must be both functional and aesthetic. Through two cases, we present a modified technique of the usual abdominoplasty to obtain better functional and aesthetic results. Two male patients have been operated on, when they, respectively, were 10 months old and 3 years old. Our surgical technique was inspired from Callia’s as we used a horizontal incision, and from the Monfort abdominoplasty for the muscular wall repair, which we reinforced by preserving a dermal layer under the umbilicus. Patients have been followed up 1 to 2 years. We reported a functional and aesthetic improvement in both patients, and no complication occurred. These preliminary results showed satisfactory functional and aesthetic results with a hidden scar.