The tissue between the rectus abdominis muscle is a fascia (tough tissue but not muscle), called the linea alba. When the abdominal pressure is increased (with pregnancy, coughing, abdominal straining, lifting weights) because it is not a muscle, the midline fascia is not able to provide a counterbalance to this additional pressure. There is a bowing out of this facia layer. This gives the appearance of a lump in the midline area of the abdomen, above the belly button.

• Physiotherapist and exercise. Typically, the management consists of exercise and postural management.
  
  
• Surgery. This treatment modality tends to be applied to patients who have failed conservative management.

The choice of surgical approach is influenced by the amount of reductant skin and subcutaneous tissue and the presence of any ventral hernia.

This is done through a medium length incision in the middle of the abdomen. The redundant linea alba is excised (removed). The rectus muscles are then brought together with the use of sutures. Quite often a piece of mesh is placed in the space behind the rectus muscle to reinforce the repair. Any redundant skin and fat layers are then excised prior to the closure.

This is typically used when a concurrent ventral hernia repair is needed. This repair is performed through several small incisions in the abdominal wall allowing the repair to be done from the inside of the abdomen. Similar to the open repair, the recti muscles are approximated with internally placed sutures. The repair can be done with or without the use of mesh.

This is a minimal access surgery (‘keyhole’) performed through a number of small incisions. The dissection is performed in the retro rectus space (the space behind the ‘six-pack’ muscles). The recti muscles are approximated. Any excess tissue may need to be resected. A mesh is typically placed behind the operative space.

“The results showed that surgery significantly improved pain scores on the validated ventral pain questionnaire compared with physiotherapy.”

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2019.00065/full

• Patients typically will be in the hospital for 3–4 days.
• Upon discharge patient will be contacted by the Post Operative Care Nurse Consultant to ensure optimum recovery.
• Patient will be reviewed in 2 weeks.
• Patient will be provided with instruction on postoperative exercise.
• Patients will normal require at least two weeks off work. if work requires intense physical activities, a longer period off work may be needed.

Please also see: Hernia – overview