Does Pregnancy Cause the Lateral Deviation of the Umbilicus?

Kim, Eun Key; Lee, Taik Jong

Abstract

Rohrich et al. first studied transverse position of umbilicus and showed it was not in the midline in more than 98% of the subjects without history of abdominal procedures. This study aimed to investigate whether the lateral deviation of umbilicus is affected by pregnancy history. Among those patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction between 2004.3 and 2006.3, 147 consecutive patients without history of abdominal procedures, ascites, and hernia were included. 28 patients were nulliparous whereas 119 were parous. Before the operation, the percentage difference from expected midline was calculated and compared between the two groups, and the rate of the midline umbilicus was also compared. Mean percentage difference was 1.54% in the parous, and 1.70% in the nulliparous, which demonstrated no significant difference. The rate of the midline umbilicus was 27.7% in the parous, and 32.4% in the nulliparous group and there was no significant difference. This study confirmed the lateral deviation of umbilicus in more than two-third of the Korean women and clarified this deviation is innate, not caused by pregnancy history. This common and normal deviation should be evaluated and mentioned preoperatively for abdominal procedures including TRAM and abdominoplasty, because it is an issue that may cause litigation.