Oblique incisions

Question 1

The Gridiron incision

Answer 1

• It is a downward and inward incision from the McBurney point
• The incision is carried through the skin and subcutaneous fat to the abdominal wall muscles, which is split along the direction of the fibres
• The peritoneum may then be reflected away from the abdominal wall inferiorly
• This allows extraperitoneal drainage of abscess, avoiding peritoneal contamination
• It can be performed on the left lower quadrant to drain abscess on the left side of the pelvis and can be varied for appendicectomy in pregnant women

Question 2

Rockey–Davis incision

Answer 2

Transverse incision made at the junction of the middle and lower thirds of the line joining the anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus