BACKGROUND Infected sternotomy wounds occur in 0.5 to 8.4 percent of open heart operations. They are complex problems, with a mortality rate of 8.1 to 14.8 percent despite flap closure. For closure, the pectoralis major flap has had considerable success. However, in providing coverage to the lower third of the sternum, it may be deficient. Modifications to improve closure have included a rectus...

To cite: Gajdhar M, Kundal VK, Mathur P, et al. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/ bcr-2013-009381 DESCRIPTION A full term male infant was admitted to hospital with evisceration of the abdominal contents through the ventral abdominal wall (figure 1). Examination revealed a skin-lined umbilical ring with eviscerated loops of bowel present within a membran...

Purpose: Preoperative imaging evaluation may be useful for determining the position of recti abdominis muscles before their correction. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography to measure the width of rectus abdominis muscle diastasis. Methods: Rectus diastasis was measured by ultrasonography preoperatively in 20 females. Rectus diastasis was measured in seven le...

1209 November 2013 T transversus abdominis (TA) plane regional anesthesia block is a well-described and effective method for reducing pain from lower abdominal surgeries. Successful ultrasound-guided TA plane block is dependent on correct recognition of muscle borders within the anterolateral abdominal wall.1 This wall is composed of three distinct muscle layers from the external oblique (eO), ...

A new surface technique for the conduction study of the lower intercostal nerves has been developed and applied to 30 normal subjects. The problem of the short available nerve segment of the intercostal nerves and the bizzare compound motor action potential (CMAP) of inconsistent latency while recording over the intercostal muscles, is overcome by applying recording electrodes over the rectus a...

Effects of an aqueous extract of orthosiphon thymiflorus on acetyl choline induces contraction on isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle were studies. The aqueous extract of orthosiphon thymiflorus produced significant inhibitory effect on the dose response curve of acetyl choline. It is concluded that the aqueous extract of orthosiphon thymiflorus  may exert an inhibitory effect on the skeletal...

BACKGROUND Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain is common. More than 30% of women have persistent pain 3 months after giving birth. There is no consensus regarding the pathology. However, coordination of muscle activity by appropriate timing and amplitude is necessary for maintaining adequate stability in the lumbopelvic area. The aim was to develop a method using surface electromyography to dete...

BACKGROUND A Swiss ball is often incorporated into trunk strengthening programs for injury rehabilitation and performance conditioning. It is often assumed that the use of a Swiss ball increases trunk muscle activity. The aim of this study was to determine whether the addition of a Swiss ball to trunk bridging exercises influences trunk muscle activity. METHODS Surface electrodes recorded the...