Traumatic lumbar hernia: report of cases and comprehensive review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Acute lumbar hernia secondary to blunt trauma is an uncommon injury of the abdominal wall and, when encountered, is a difficult challenge for the trauma surgeon.


METHODS
Three cases of lumbar hernia secondary to blunt trauma are described and a review of the literature was conducted for other such cases. Clinical, anatomic, and demographic data were extracted from these reports and analyzed.


RESULTS
Sixty-three cases of lumbar hernia secondary to blunt trauma were found in the English literature and three cases are described here. Hernias occurred most commonly in the inferior lumbar triangle (70%) and were most frequently a result of a motor vehicle collision (71%). Physical examination findings were variable and reported in only a minority of cases (palpable hernia, 33%; flank hematoma, 27%) and associated intra-abdominal injuries were common (61%). Most traumatic lumbar hernias were diagnosed immediately, and computed tomography was 98% sensitive for diagnosis. Fifty-eight percent of patients were managed initially with exploratory laparotomy. Timing of hernia repair was variable.


CONCLUSIONS
Traumatic lumbar hernias are associated with a high incidence of intra-abdominal injury and should be considered in all cases of severe blunt abdominal trauma. Computed tomography should be implemented when the diagnosis is suspected in a hemodynamically stable patient. Repair should be performed by mesh patching techniques at a time based on clinical correlation.
Burt
Bryan M
BM
Departments of Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. pbarie@med.cornell.edu
Afifi
Hazem Y
HY
Wantz
George E
GE
Barie
Philip S
PS
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*