Use of Botox in abdominal wall hernia surgery

Since the first publication in 2009 on the use of Botulinum Toxin A (BTA) in abdominal wall reconstruction, its application in the prehabilitation of patients with abdominal wall hernias has increased across the globe. For example, evidence suggests that BTA can be used to avoid the need to apply component separation techniques (which are associated with a high rate of morbidity) in complex abdominal hernias. Furthermore, the secondary effects of BTA appear to be minimal and uncommon.

However, after more than 20 years of its use and widespread utilization, the exact dose, the number of injections at each side of the abdominal wall and the correct muscular plane to be injected remain unclear. Moreover, the application for BTA injection as prehabilitation tool are variable in different settings for example: midline hernias with a transversal diameter higher than 10 cm compared to 7 cm, round defects that are known to be difficult to close, lateral hernias, inguinoscrotal hernias, the management of open abdomen and many others.

We invite all interested authors to submit their manuscripts related to this hot topic. The aim of the Special Issue is to bring together evidence answering the following questions:

- What are the best applications for BTA use?
- What is the appropriate dose and number of injections?
- How can we measure the outcomes of the injection and the success of the technique?
- Is it true there are no important secondary effects?
- Can we apply the technique to every patient or are situations when it cannot be used?

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Article types and fees

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Commentary
• Editorial
• Letter to the Editor
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Protocol
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Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Commentary
• Editorial
• Letter to the Editor
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Protocol
• Review

Keywords: botulinum toxin A, abdominal wall reconstruction, prehabilitation