Traumatic abdominal wall hernia in two adults: a case series
Nitin Agarwal1, Sunil Kumar, Mohit Kumar Joshi
1Department of Surgery, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital Vivek Vihar, Delhi 110095 India.
Journal of Medical Case Reports
|October 16, 2009
Summary
Traumatic abdominal wall hernias are rare in adults and difficult to diagnose. Prompt diagnosis and individualized management, often involving mesh repair or laparotomy, are crucial for good outcomes in these blunt trauma cases.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Abdominal Wall Reconstruction
- Hernia Repair
Background:
- Traumatic abdominal wall hernias are uncommon, especially in adults.
- Presentation varies significantly, making diagnosis challenging.
- Handlebar injuries are a common cause in children, but adult cases differ.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present two distinct adult cases of traumatic abdominal wall hernia.
- To highlight the varied presentations and management strategies.
- To emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate intervention.
Main Methods:
- Case 1: Blunt abdominal injury from animal attack, clinically evident fascial disruption, emergency mesh repair.
- Case 2: Motor vehicle accident, abdominal swelling, CT scan revealing bowel herniation, laparotomy with bowel resection and primary repair.
- Both patients were hemodynamically stable and recovered well.
Main Results:
- Successful surgical repair in both adult traumatic hernia cases.
- Mesh repair for fascial disruption and laparotomy with bowel resection for strangulated hernia.
- Individualized management based on injury severity and presentation.
Conclusions:
- High index of suspicion for traumatic hernias after blunt abdominal trauma, especially with parietal wall swelling.
- Computed tomography (CT) is essential for accurate diagnosis.
- Prompt and individualized surgical management is key to prevent complications like strangulation.
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