Conclusion  A Pfannenstiel incision is associated with the lowest rate of incisional hernia and should be the incision of choice for hand assistance and specimen extraction in minimally invasive colorectal resections wherever applicable. Content Type Journal ArticleDOI 10.1007/s00464-010-1309-2Authors Ashwin deSouza, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, 840 S. Wood St., Suite 518(E) CSB, Chicago, IL 60612, USABastian Domajnko, Rochester Colon & Rectal Surgeons, P.C., Rochester, NY 14626, USAJohn Park, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, 840 S. Wood St., Suite 518(E) CSB, Chicago, IL 60612, USASlawomir Marecik, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Universit...