title: Traumatic flank hernias: acute and chronic management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic flank hernias are increasingly recognized as occurring after severe blunt injury. To clarify the role and timing of operative therapy, we review here our recent experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospectively maintained database at Oklahoma's only level I trauma center was reviewed to identify all patients presenting with traumatic flank hernias.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the period from July 2001 through February 2007, 25 patients (.2% of all blunt trauma patients) had traumatic flank hernias. The average age was 36.4 years (range 13 to 66), and all cases but 1 were related to motor vehicle crashes. All patients had at least 1 associated injury. Repairs were done by standardized approach. Eleven patients underwent immediate surgery; 8 underwent delayed repair; and 3 underwent late repair (range 4.5 to 10 years after injury). The other 3 patients were managed expectantly. There was 1 mortality and 3 recurrences. Length of stay for acute trauma ranged from 5 to 49 days and was dependent on the severity of associated injuries. Follow-up of 21 patients ranged from 7 to 710 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Traumatic flank hernias are rare but more common than previously recognized. Prompt recognition, proper timing, and technique are key to successful outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. jeffrey-bender@ouhsc.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Ryan W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Roxie M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Albrecht
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D034861:Abdominal Wall; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006547:Hernia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications