Blunt traumatic rupture of the abdominal wall musculature.

Only 38 cases of blunt traumatic rupture of the anterior abdominal wall musculature have been described in the literature to date. We describe a patient who sustained a complete transection of the right and a partial disruption of the left rectus abdominis muscle as well as multiple associated injuries secondary to blunt, crushing trauma. Postoperatively, he experienced several complications and developed a ventral and right flank hernia. The former was repaired with a rectus abdominis muscle flap and polypropylene mesh. The flank hernia was initially repaired with polypropylene mesh and a recurrence was repaired with latissimus dorsi fascia.