Blunt Trauma Rupture of the Lateral Abdominal Wall – A Case Report

Abstract

Traumatic abdominal wall hernias (TAWH) are mostly a consequence of highenergy mechanisms where tangential forces come in to contact with a large surface area resulting in disruption of subcutaneous tissue, fascia and muscle. The lack of success in managing these is primarily due to the avulsion of muscle directly off bone leaving a lack of tissue for anchoring sutures. We present a 59 year old lady who developed a TAWH following a motor vehicle accident, managed with a novel laparoscopic and open hybrid approach as a definitive emergency surgical treatment with minimal morbidity whilst preserving the basic principles of hernia repair & trauma. We conclude that in stable patients with no other acute issues immediate definitive treatment of TAWH can be performed through a combination of laparoscopic and open techniques.