Abdominal wall reconstruction in the prune belly syndrome.

In our institution, 12 patients have been encountered with prune belly syndrome. Eight children have undergone evaluation of their abdominal musculature by electromyography. Results of their studies show that major functioning or recoverable muscle exists in the lateral and upper sector of the abdomen, but that little or no muscle exists in the lower central abdomen. Based in part on these findings, an operation has been devised which spares all potentially functioning musculature and corresponding motor nerves, and disposes of nonfunctioning and nonrecoverable muscle. In terms of cosmetic appearance and gross motor testing, these growing boys show significant improvement.