Kawalec-Rutkowska Agata Maria, Simka Marian
Department of Anatomy, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Opole, Opole, Poland.
J Ultrason. 2024 Dec 23;24(99):1-5. doi: 10.15557/jou.2024.0036. eCollection 2024 Dec.
Diastasis recti is a common contour abnormality of the anterior abdominal wall, where an increased distance between the rectus abdominis muscles results in a visible or palpable bulge in this area. This study aimed to characterize this clinical entity in children.
Anatomy of the rectus abdominis muscles and the linea alba, with a special focus on the interrectus distance (distance between two bellies of the rectus abdominis muscles), was studied using ultrasound. Anthropometric and ultrasonographic assessments were performed on 38 children aged 7-12 years. According to the clinical definition of bulging in the epigastrium, diastasis was diagnosed in 12 children (31.6%), significantly more often in boys than in girls (50.0% vs. 6.3%). Other clinical and anthropometric variables, such as age, history of preterm birth, body mass, body mass index, waist circumference, and height, were not significantly associated with diastasis recti.
Diastasis recti, defined by the ultrasonographic criterion of interrectus distance >20 mm, was found in 10 children (26.3%), with no significant differences between boys and girls. Still, there was a moderate agreement between these two modes of diagnosing diastasis: the Cohen's kappa coefficient was 0.49. This suggests that ultrasonographic measurement of the interrectus distance should not be considered an alternative and more precise method of diagnosing diastasis.
Our study indicates that diastasis recti is quite common in the pediatric population, especially among boys. However, more studies are needed in children to understand the functional relevance and natural course of this clinical entity.
腹直肌分离是前腹壁常见的外形异常，即腹直肌之间的距离增加，导致该区域出现可见或可触及的隆起。本研究旨在描述儿童中的这一临床实体。
使用超声研究腹直肌和白线的解剖结构，特别关注腹直肌间距（腹直肌两肌腹之间的距离）。对38名7至12岁的儿童进行了人体测量和超声评估。根据上腹部隆起的临床定义，12名儿童（31.6%）被诊断为腹直肌分离，男孩的诊断率显著高于女孩（50.0%对6.3%）。其他临床和人体测量变量，如年龄、早产史、体重、体重指数、腰围和身高，与腹直肌分离无显著相关性。
根据腹直肌间距>20mm的超声标准，10名儿童（26.3%）被发现存在腹直肌分离，男孩和女孩之间无显著差异。然而，这两种诊断腹直肌分离的方式之间存在中度一致性：科恩kappa系数为0.49。这表明，腹直肌间距的超声测量不应被视为诊断腹直肌分离的替代且更精确的方法。
我们的研究表明，腹直肌分离在儿童群体中相当常见，尤其是在男孩中。然而，需要对儿童进行更多研究，以了解这一临床实体的功能相关性和自然病程。
