Delayed repair for traumatic abdominal wall hernia: is it safe?

Abdominal wall hernias after trauma have been recognized for more than a century, with the first case reported as occurring after a fall. Traumatic abdominal wall hernias (TAWHs) after blunt trauma are uncommon. The timing of definitive repair, early or delayed, is not clear. We report a case on TAWH and mesenteric avulsion, highlighting the reasons for immediate or delayed repair. A single case study can hardly be considered as a basis for profound changes in the management of post traumatic hernias. However, damage to all layers of the abdominal wall indicates high-energy trauma. In such cases, the damage is not, in all probability, limited to the integumentary system. For the moment, the timing of surgery in any TAWH should be considered differently according to the trauma, the wall defect, clinical and radiological findings, associated injuries, and the clinical status of the patient.