Trends in operative treatment of the rectus diastasis A 13 year analysis of German nationwide hospital discharge data.

PURPOSE: The indication for surgical treatment of rectus diastasis (RD) without a coexisting hernia remains controversial. Although guidelines exist, the lack of robust data allows only weak recommendations. This study aimed to provide comprehensive nationwide data on the surgical management of RD without hernia. METHODS: This retrospective observational multicenter study analyzed anonymous data from the German nationwide hospital discharge dataset (2010-2023). Patients with coexisting hernia or under 18 years were excluded. The primary endpoint was the annual number of RD surgeries without hernia. Secondary endpoints included trends over 13 years, patient demographics, mesh use, and early postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 2,768 cases were identified (mean age 46.2 ± 13.2 years; 76.2% female). The annual case number ranged from 120 to 253, with no consistent trend. A mesh was used in 28.0% (n = 775), while 72.0% underwent reconstruction without documented mesh. Data on surgical approach (open vs. minimally invasive) were not available. The overall early complication rate was 6.9%, with bleeding and wound infections most common. Male patients had significantly higher complication rates. Major limitations include potential coding bias, underreporting, and missing data on surgical technique. CONCLUSION: This is the first real-world big data analysis of RD repair without hernia in Germany. On average, 198 procedures are performed annually with a low complication rate. The findings support surgical treatment in selected symptomatic cases and emphasize the need for standardized coding and prospective registry data.