Y-to-V umbilicoplasty for proboscoid umbilical hernia

Abstract

Background / purpose Several techniques are proposed for reconstruction of proboscoid umbilical hernia in the pediatric patients. In this work, we reported our experience with Y-to-V umbilicoplasty in the surgical repair of proboscoid umbilical hernia in infants and children. Patients and methods A 3-year prospective study included 15 children presented with proboscoid umbilical hernia. A skin marker was used to draw the lines of skin incisions. ‘Y’ incision was done starting with the vertical limb. The facial defect was repaired. Lateral twin isosceles triangular flaps were excised. A new umbilical valley was reconstructed by one or two subcutaneous stitches of the residual umbilical flap fixing the flap’s summit to the aponeurosis plane. We appreciated the results as excellent, fair or bad according to criteria of the peripheral rim (raised, flattened or depressed) and the central depression (deep, shallow or absent). Results This study included 10 boys and 5 girls. Their ages ranged from 1 to 7 years at the time of surgery. The mean duration of the operation was 45 min and the mean hospitalization stay was 1 day. The early results were excellent in all cases. Follow-up period continued for 6 months and revealed a natural-looking umbilicus with excellent peripheral rim and central depression. Conclusion Y-to-V umbilicoplasty in the surgical repair of proboscoid umbilical hernia in infants and children is simple and easy to design and carried out with excellent aesthetic results.