title: Motorbike-handlebar hernia - a rare traumatic abdominal wall hernia: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Handlebar hernias are very rare and arise following a sudden force from a handle-like object impacting a focal area of the abdomen, which results in a disruption of the underlying abdominal muscle and fascia without necessarily disrupting the overlying skin. Other than a reducible swelling on the abdominal wall, the physical examination of such patients is usually unremarkable and the diagnosis could easily be missed.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 8-year-old Cameroonian boy with no significant past history presented to our emergency service with a tender left flank swelling following a road traffic accident. He was knocked down by a motorbike with resulting impact of the handlebar on his abdomen. A handlebar hernia was diagnosed on the basis of a reducible abdominal swelling with a positive cough impulse. A herniorrhaphy was done the following day after resuscitation and his postoperative period was uneventful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Handlebar hernias, although rare, should be suspected when patients present with an abdominal swelling following blunt abdominal trauma involving a handlebar-like object. A good history and physical examination are usually enough to pose an early diagnosis of handlebar hernia. Management typically involves surgical intervention to prevent complications. The timing and surgical approach should be decided on a case-by-case basis.
authors.affiliation: Sub-Divisional Hospital Mayo Darley, Mayo Darley, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Frank-Leonel
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Tianyi
authors.affiliation: Ibal Sub-Divisional Hospital, Oku, North West Region, Cameroon. nvagbor@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Valirie Ndip
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Agbor
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK.|Health and Human Development Research Group (2HD), Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Tsi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Njim
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D046449:Hernia, Abdominal / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009049:Motorcycles; D010808:Physical Examination; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Case report; Handlebar hernia; Traumatic abdominal wall hernia