Early Abdominal Wall Reconstruction with Biologic Mesh is Feasible after Catastrophic Abdominal Wall Disruption from Blunt Trauma

Abstract

Introduction: Traumatic abdominal wall hernias (TAWHs) after blunt trauma, while rare, are typically associated with severe injuries, particularly those involved with the seatbelt triad of abdominal wall disruption. The aim of this study is to present a case series of patients with TAWHs that were managed at an early stage post injury with a biological mesh. Materials and Methods: Patients with TAWH undergoing complex abdominal wall reconstruction (CAWR) between 2017 and 2020 were identified from our institutional database. All patients underwent definitive reconstruction using advanced surgical techniques including a posterior component separation with biological mesh (STRATTICE™, Allergan, Inc., Dublin, Ireland) placed in a sublay fashion. Results: Seven patients underwent definitive TAWH repair during their index admission: the median age was 56 years (range 20–77) and the median Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 34 (29–50). The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle crash (MVC) at 86%, while the most common intra-abdominal concomitant injury was small bowel. Traumatic hernia location was on the right side of the abdominal wall in three patients, left in three patients, and bilaterally in one patient. There were no hernia recurrences or deaths in this small cohort. Conclusion: Traumatic abdominal wall disruption can be safely reconstructed using advanced surgical techniques with a biological mesh during the acute phase or same index hospitalization.