Traumatic ileal perforation in post-traumatic ventral hernia: adding insult to injury

Rupture of abdominal wall with formation of ventral hernia is a rare complication following blunt abdominal trauma. Small intestinal rupture within such a hernial sac, resulting from a subsequent blunt trauma is rarer still. Ventral hernias often go untreated in developing countries because of their seemingly innocuous nature, ignorance and financial constraints. Blunt trauma in patients with hernia warrants a thorough clinical examination along with evaluation for intestinal injury, since even trivial trauma can cause potentially serious intra-peritoneal visceral injury. A case of fatal traumatic ileal perforation in pre-existing post-traumatic ventral hernia (from blunt trauma sustained 10 years earlier) is being reported.