Prosthetic mesh for infected abdominal wall defects? Report of a patient with a large full thickness abdominal wall defect and colostomy due to a gunshot wound.

Reconstruction of large, infected abdominal wall defects is often difficult. Local factors, such as defect size, presence of infection, adequate skin coverage and presence of enteric fistulae dictate the reconstructive method that can be used. Placement of prosthetic mesh materials into infected defects was generally not recommended due to a high rate of extrusion and fistulae. We present a patient with a large infected abdominal wall defect, exposed intestines and colostomy due to a gunshot wound that was successfully treated with a polypropylene mesh reinforcement and free latissimus dorsi muscle flap coverage. Twelve months following abdominal wall reconstruction with stable soft tissue cover, the patient is without any signs of hernia or infection. We conclude that prosthetic mesh repair of infected abdominal wall defects of such characteristics that preclude other reconstructive procedures can be attempted provided there is coverage with a well vascularised tissue.