Traumatic Abdominal Wall Hernia in Children: A Systematic Review

Pediatric traumatic spiegelian hernia, not always a handlebar hernia: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia is rare in children, and traumatic Spiegelian hernia is exceptional. Most of them occur due to a handlebar accident in older children. This report concerns a case of a toddler with a rare mechanism and location.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of a 28-month-old girl who was hit by a car and immediately presented at our institution with a right upper quadrant 5-cm defect traumatic Spiegelian hernia associated with a congenital umbilical hernia and no other associated lesions, as confirmed by a computed tomography scan. Three weeks later, the defect along the semilunar line was still palpable (3 cm), so open tissue repair was performed for both hernias, with good outcomes four months postoperatively.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

When traumatic Spiegelian hernia occurs mainly due to handlebar accidents, it is rare in children under 5-year-olds, with a different mechanism. The lesion seems more frequent in the right upper quadrant in this population.

CONCLUSION

Traumatic Spiegelian hernia can occur in toddlers, with a different mechanism and location compared to older children. Computed tomography is essential to explore associated intraabdominal injuries. Despite the tendency for the defect size reduction, repair must be performed for palpable defects.

Abdominal impacts of handlebar injuries in the PIPER child model: a prevention study

Aim

Analysis of data from bicycle accidents reveals that handlebar impacts are a significant cause of injury, particularly among children. Despite existing safety regulations, such as helmet requirements, little attention is given to abdominal injuries. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of handlebar ends on abdominal loading during bicycle crashes.

Methods

This study delves into the impact of five different handlebar designs on abdominal injuries during bicycle crashes, using finite element simulations with detailed Human Body Models (HBMs) of a six-year-old child (PIPER child model, Version 0.99.0). Four impact locations were identified in the injury scenario, selected according to the anatomical location of the most commonly injured organs, liver, pancreas, spleen and abdomen.

Results

Grip design features, such as shape and rigidity, significantly influence injury outcomes. Grips designed specifically for children demonstrate superior performance in reducing abdominal loading and injury metrics compared to standard grips. The highest injury potential was seen in a damaged handlebar end.

Conclusion

These findings underscore the importance of improved handlebar designs and standardized safety measures, especially for children. Implementation of such measures could mitigate the significant health and economic burden associated with handlebar-related injuries and enhance overall bicycle safety for children.

Pediatric Traumatic Lumbar Hernias and Associated Injuries: A Case Series

OBJECTIVE

Traumatic lumbar hernias are a rare entity mostly seen with high-impact, blunt abdominal trauma. This injury occurs when there is disruption of the posterior musculature along with bony structures, allowing for herniation of abdominal contents. There are minimal cases of this entity reported in adults, but even fewer in the pediatric population.

METHODS

We describe 3 cases of traumatic lumbar hernia at our institution as well as provide a review of the literature to elucidate the most common mechanisms, severity of injury, and associated injuries.

RESULTS

Traumatic lumbar hernia is most commonly seen in restrained passengers involved in motor vehicle collisions. A majority of cases are diagnosed using computed tomography imaging and less frequently during primary surgical exploration. The most common associated injuries were mesenteric and bowel injuries, followed by spinal and chest trauma. Traumatic lumbar hernia often leads to prolonged hospital stays and increased need for posthospital rehabilitation because of associated traumatic comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Traumatic lumbar hernia is a rare entity in children, and early suspicion and identification of associated injuries is necessary in the management of these patients.

Massive traumatic abdominal wall hernia in pediatric multitrauma in Australia: a case report

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia is a rare presentation, most commonly reported in the context of motor vehicle accidents and associated with blunt abdominal injuries and handlebar injuries in the pediatric population. A 13-year-old boy presented with multiple traumatic injuries and hemodynamic instability after a high-speed motor vehicle accident. His injuries consisted of massive traumatic abdominal wall hernia (grade 4) with bowel injury and perforation, blunt aortic injury, a Chance fracture, hemopneumothorax, and a humeral shaft fracture. Initial surgical management included partial resection of the terminal ileum, sigmoid colon, and descending colon. Laparostomy was managed with negative pressure wound therapy. The patient underwent skin-only primary closure of the abdominal wall and required multiple returns to theatre for debridement, dressing changes, and repair of other injuries. Various surgical management options for abdominal wall closure were considered. In total, he underwent 36 procedures. The multiple injuries had competing management aims, which required close collaboration between specialist clinicians to form an individualized management plan. The severity and complexity of this injury was of a scale not previously experienced by many clinicians and benefited from intrahospital and interhospital specialist collaboration. The ideal aim of primary surgical repair was not possible in this case of a giant abdominal wall defect.

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia: Case report of atypical origin

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia (TAWH) is an injury that occurs after an abdominal wall blunt trauma consisting of fasciomuscular rupture and does not present skin penetration. Documenting unique and rare clinical cases, such as traumatic hernia without skin penetration, enriches the medical literature and provides valuable information to identify innovative and optimised approaches for the treatment of similar cases in the future.

CASE PRESENTATION

48-year-old female with no significant medical history presented to the emergency room after being directly hit by a 1200 kg vehicle while standing in the street. Clinical examination revealed a TAWH with total elevation and total loss of insertion of all abdominal wall muscles on the right side, and no involvement of the overlying skin secondary to the mechanism of trauma. The patient agreed to surgical management after being thoroughly informed about the procedure. Surgical exploration was performed with the patient in a lateral position, and the incision was made over the hernia sac. A monopolar electrocautery was used to expose the iliac crest and fully visualize the defect before drilling through the iliac crest. Soft macroporous polypropylene mesh repair was guided through the iliac crest and abdominal wall using a suture and secured with knots. The patient showed a satisfactory and favorable progress.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The present surgical technique is recommended for atypical cases of high-strength TAWH.

Acute Traumatic Lumbar Hernia: Report of Two Cases

Acute traumatic lumbar hernia (ATLH) is rare in blunt trauma and can be overlooked due to the presence of multiple injuries following the trauma incidence. ATLH is usually found at the time of radiological examination or during surgical exploration. Awareness of the clinicians about the possibility of ATLH can enhance early diagnosis and reduce the occurrence of serious complications including bowel obstruction and strangulation. Herein, we present two cases of ATLH in which one of them was treated conservatively in the acute stage and the other patient was treated surgically. Conservative management can be adopted in the acute stage with the delayed repair of the hernia after resolving the muscles' contusion. However, early operative intervention is essential if conservative management failed or in the event of acute deterioration of the patient's condition.

Post-traumatic lateral abdominal wall hernia: a case report

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia (TAWH) also known as blunt abdominal TAWH is uncommon. The clinical diagnosis is difficult. The authors present a case report of posthigh-energy abdominal blunt trauma causing a TAWH.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 36-year-women, with unremarkable past medical history, was presented to the Emergency Department after a stuck in high-speed two automobiles. She was hemodynamic, respiratory, and neurologically stable. The BMI was 36 kg/m². The abdomen was not distended with an ecchymotic lesion on the right flank. The thoracic abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a rupture in the lateral abdominal wall muscles with a TAWH in the location of the skin ecchymoses. There was no visceral lesion or intraperitoneal fluid. A conservative treatment was indicated. The follow-up was uneventful, with hematoma resorption and no cellulitis or abscess. The patient was discharged after 1 week. An abdominal repair will be planned using a mesh.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

TAWH is a rare entity. The best imaging modality for diagnosis is the CT scan allowing classification of the hernia and a screen for other injuries. The presence of an isolated TAWH must lower the threshold to closely monitor or to operatively explore, given the high rate of false-negative findings at imaging features.

CONCLUSION

TAWH should be suspected behind any blunt abdominal trauma with high energy. CT scan and ultrasound were helpful for diagnosis and the only curative treatment is surgery to avoid complications.

Hernias traumáticas de la pared abdominal en pediatría: serie de tres casos

Introducción. Las hernias traumáticas de la pared abdominal son una entidad de muy rara ocurrencia en niños, con pocos casos descritos. Son lesiones causadas por trauma cerrado cuando las fuerzas resultantes del trauma no tienen la suficiente energía para romper la piel, pero son suficientes para producir una disrupción de las fibras musculares y la fascia. Métodos. Se presentan tres casos clínicos de niños con hernias traumáticas, el primero tipo I y los otros dos, tipo II, cuyo diagnóstico y tratamiento quirúrgico se llevaron a cabo por el servicio de cirugía pediátrica en un hospital de alto nivel de atención en Colombia. Resultados. Los tres pacientes fueron llevados a manejo quirúrgico sin prótesis, el primero por abordaje abierto y los otros dos por cirugía videoasistida, con buena evolución y sin recidivas en el seguimiento. Discusión. Las hernias traumáticas de la pared abdominal son más frecuentes en varones, como en nuestros casos, y del lado derecho. El diagnóstico de este tipo de hernias es clínico y se apoya en imágenes, teniendo en cuenta que no hay antecedente de hernia en la región afectada. El tratamiento es quirúrgico, pero es controversial el momento del mismo y el uso de materiales protésicos, puesto que existe la posibilidad de recidiva en los primeros meses en los casos de reparo primario. Conclusión. A pesar de la rareza de esta entidad, presentamos tres pacientes pediátricos a quienes se les realizó diagnóstico y manejo quirúrgico tempranos, con buena evolución y seguimiento a más de tres años.

Traumatic Spigelian Hernia in a Pediatric Patient Following a Bicycle Injury

Blunt abdominal trauma due to bicycle accident is a common occurrence in the pediatric population; however, traumatic abdominal wall hernia as the result of blunt trauma is a rare presentation. Abdominal wall injuries can be isolated or associated with multiple intra-abdominal pathologies. A high index of suspicion is essential for prompt intervention, especially when there is concurrent intra-abdominal pathology. We present a case of a traumatic spigelian hernia in a pediatric patient following a handlebar injury with the intraoperative discovery of a bucket-handle type mesenteric injury to the jejunum.

Blunt Traumatic Diaphragmatic Hernia in Children: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia (TDH) is rare in children, most often occurring following blunt thoracoabdominal trauma from high energy mechanisms, such as motor vehicle collisions (MVC). We performed a systematic review to describe injury details and management.

METHODS

Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search was performed to identify publications of blunt TDH in patients < 18 y old. Conflicts were resolved by consensus. Data were collected on demographics, TDH location, mechanism of injury, associated intraabdominal injuries (IAI), management, and outcomes. Denominators vary depending on number of patients with such information reported.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight articles were reviewed with 142 patients with TDH. The median age was seven y (range 0.25-16). Most were left-sided (85 of 126, 67.5%). MVC was the most common mechanism (66 of 142, 46.5%). IAI was present in 50.0% (57 of 114), most commonly liver injuries (25 of 57, 43.9%). Delayed diagnoses occurred in 49.6% (57 of 115, range 8 h-10 y), and were more common with right-sided TDH (76.0% versus 48.5%, P = 0.02). Chest radiography was 59.0% sensitive for TDH, while computed tomography sensitivity was 65.8%. Operative repair was performed on all surviving patients, and all underwent primary diaphragm repair. The overall mortality was 11.3% (n = 16), with four attributable to the TDH. There were no reported recurrences over a median follow-up of 12 mo.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric TDH is a rare diagnosis with a high rate of associated IAI and delayed diagnosis. Primary diaphragm repair was performed in all cases. Surgeons should maintain a high suspicion for diaphragm injury in blunt thoracoabdominal trauma.