Handlebar hernia: case report and literature review

Area of Science:

• Traumatology
• Abdominal Surgery

Background:

• Handlebar hernia is a rare type of traumatic abdominal wall hernia.
• It typically results from blunt force trauma, often from bicycle handlebars impacting the abdomen.

Observation:

• A case study involving an adolescent patient who sustained a rectus muscle abdominal wall hernia from a bicycle handlebar injury is presented.
• Diagnosis was suggested by a skin abrasion and a palpable swelling that reappeared during a Valsalva maneuver.

Findings:

• The case highlights a specific mechanism of injury leading to a handlebar hernia.
• Clinical signs such as skin abrasion and hernia recurrence with increased intra-abdominal pressure are key diagnostic indicators.

Implications:

• Traumatic abdominal wall hernias, including handlebar hernias, require timely surgical intervention.
• Primary repair is advised to mitigate potential complications associated with these injuries.