Traumatic Abdominal Wall Hernia: Early or Delayed Repair?

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia after blunt trauma is a rare entity. They can easily be overlooked in patients who have multiple trauma, as its signs and symptoms may be variable due to the presence of multiple injuries. Imaging with computed tomography or ultrasound confirms the diagnosis as well as identifying any associated injuries. Although surgery is the standard treatment for traumatic abdominal wall hernias, there is no consensus on the early or late repair of the defect. Some authors recommend early surgical intervention in order to avoid the risk of intra-abdominal organ injury, incarceration, and strangulation. In this study, we report our experience in three cases, which did not involve emergency surgery. Long-term outcome is successful. Elective hernia repair may be safe and feasible in stable patients.