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Umbilical reconstruction with the bow tie flap

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Abstract

The umbilicus can be absent in congenital malformations that are associated to umbilical agenesia such as bladder exstrophy, gastroschisis or omphalocele or it can be excised during surgical procedures such as umbilical herniorrhaphy, abdominoplasty and laparotomy. We report a new technique for umbilical reconstruction, using a “bow tie”-shaped flap, partially made of scar tissue. We treated three female patients with absent umbilicus as a consequence of congenital malformations or previous surgical treatments. This method provided a good conical shape to the neoumbilicus with adequate depth and a wide external ring. Follow-up at 2 years showed that a satisfactory shape was maintained. Previously described techniques for neoumbilicoplasty were unsatisfying or seemed too complex in our hands. The reported technique is easy and simple, with good, stable and natural aesthetic results, and it can be effectively used for umbilical reconstruction in all primary or secondary cases of umbilical absence.

Level of evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plastic Surgery Unit, School of Medicine and Surgery University “Federico II”, Naples, Italy

    Gisella Nele, Annalena Di Martino & Fabrizio Schönauer

  2. Via Posillipo 308, 80123, Naples, Italy

    Gisella Nele

  3. Corso Garibaldi 18, 80053, Castellammare di Stabia, Naples, Italy

    Annalena Di Martino

  4. Via Edificio Scolastico, 27, 80016, Marano di Napoli, Naples, Italy

    Mariagrazia Moio

  5. Via F. Galiani 20, Naples, 80122, Italy

    Mariagrazia Moio

  6. Department of Surgery “P. Valdoni” Unit of Plastic Surgery Polyclinic “Umberto I”, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

    Fabrizio Schönauer

Authors
  1. Gisella Nele
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  2. Annalena Di Martino
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  3. Mariagrazia Moio
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  4. Fabrizio Schönauer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gisella Nele.

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Disclosures

Gisella Nele, Annalena Di Martino, Mariagrazia Moio and Fabrizio Schönauer declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Patients provided written consent before their inclusion in this study.

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For this kind of article formal consent from a local ethics committee is not required.

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This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

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Nele, G., Di Martino, A., Moio, M. et al. Umbilical reconstruction with the bow tie flap. Eur J Plast Surg 40, 249–254 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-016-1218-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-016-1218-2

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