A systematic review and meta-analysis of technical aspects and clinical outcomes of botulinum toxin prior to abdominal wall reconstruction

PURPOSE: To systematically review technical aspects and treatment regimens of botulinum toxin A (BTA) injections in the lateral abdominal wall musculature. We also investigated the effect of BTA on abdominal muscle- and hernia dimensions, and clinical outcome. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and CINAHL were searched for studies that investigate the injection of BTA in the lateral abdominal wall muscles. Study characteristics, BTA treatment regimens, surgical procedures, and clinical outcomes are presented descriptively. The effect of BTA on muscle- and hernia dimensions is analyzed using random-effects meta-analyses, and exclusively for studies that investigate ventral incisional hernia patients. RESULTS: We identified 23 studies, comprising 995 patients. Generally, either 500 units of Dysport(®) or 200–300 units of Botox(®) are injected at 3–5 locations bilaterally in all three muscles of the lateral abdominal wall, about 4 weeks prior to surgery. No major procedural complications are reported. Meta-analyses show that BTA provides significant elongation of the lateral abdominal wall of 3.2 cm per side (95% CI 2.0–4.3, I(2) = 0%, p < 0.001); 6.3 cm total elongation, and a significant but heterogeneous decrease in transverse hernia width (95% CI 0.2–6.8, I(2) = 94%, p = 0.04). Furthermore, meta-analysis shows that BTA pretreatment in ventral hernia patients significantly increases the fascial closure rate [RR 1.08 (95% CI 1.02–1.16, I(2) = 0%, p = 0.02)]. CONCLUSION: The injection technique and treatment regimens of botulinum toxin A as well as patient selection require standardization. Bilateral pretreatment in hernia patients significantly elongates the lateral abdominal wall muscles, making fascial closure during surgical hernia repair more likely. STUDY REGISTRATION: A review protocol for this meta-analysis was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42020198246). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10029-021-02499-1.