Management of blunt traumatic abdominal wall hernias: A Western Trauma Association multicenter study.

Authors

• Kevin N Harrell
• Arthur D Grimes
• Roxie M Albrecht
• Jessica K Reynolds
• Walker R Ueland
• Jason D Sciarretta
• Samual R Todd
• Marc D Trust
• Marielle Ngoue
• Bradley W Thomas
• Sullivan A Ayuso
• Aimee LaRiccia
• M Chance Spalding, OhioHealth
• Michael J Collins
• Bryan R Collier
• Basil S Karam
• Marc A de Moya
• Mark J Lieser
• John M Chipko
• James M Haan
• Kelly L Lightwine
• Daniel C Cullinane
• Carolyne R Falank
• Ryan C Phillips
• Michael T Kemp
• Hasan B Alam
• Pascal O Udekwu
• Gloria D Sanin
• Amy N Hildreth
• Walter L Biffl
• Kathryn B Schaffer
• Gary Marshall
• Omaer Muttalib
• Jeffry Nahmias
• Niti Shahi
• Steven L Moulton
• Robert A Maxwell

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Blunt traumatic abdominal wall hernias (TAWH) occur in approximately 15,000 patients per year. Limited data are available to guide the timing of surgical intervention or the feasibility of nonoperative management.

METHODS: A retrospective study of patients presenting with blunt TAWH from January 2012 through December 2018 was conducted. Patient demographic, surgical, and outcomes data were collected from 20 institutions through the Western Trauma Association Multicenter Trials Committee.

RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-one patients with TAWH were identified. One hundred and seventy-six (62.6%) patients underwent operative hernia repair, and 105 (37.4%) patients underwent nonoperative management. Of those undergoing surgical intervention, 157 (89.3%) were repaired during the index hospitalization, and 19 (10.7%) underwent delayed repair. Bowel injury was identified in 95 (33.8%) patients with the majority occurring with rectus and flank hernias (82.1%) as compared with lumbar hernias (15.8%). Overall hernia recurrence rate was 12.0% (n = 21). Nonoperative patients had a higher Injury Severity Score (24.4 vs. 19.4, p = 0.010), head Abbreviated Injury Scale score (1.1 vs. 0.6, p = 0.006), and mortality rate (11.4% vs. 4.0%, p = 0.031). Patients who underwent late repair had lower rates of primary fascial repair (46.4% vs. 77.1%, p = 0.012) and higher rates of mesh use (78.9% vs. 32.5%, p < 0.001). Recurrence rate was not statistically different between the late and early repair groups (15.8% vs. 11.5%, p = 0.869).

CONCLUSION: This report is the largest series and first multicenter study to investigate TAWHs. Bowel injury was identified in over 30% of TAWH cases indicating a significant need for immediate laparotomy. In other cases, operative management may be deferred in specific patients with other life-threatening injuries, or in stable patients with concern for bowel injury. Hernia recurrence was not different between the late and early repair groups.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management, Level IV.

First Page

834

Last Page

840

DOI

10.1097/TA.0000000000003250

Publication Date

11-1-2021

Recommended Citation

Harrell KN, Grimes AD, Albrecht RM, Reynolds JK, Ueland WR, Sciarretta JD, Todd SR, Trust MD, Ngoue M, Thomas BW, Ayuso SA, LaRiccia A, Spalding MC, Collins MJ, Collier BR, Karam BS, de Moya MA, Lieser MJ, Chipko JM Jr, Haan JM, Lightwine KL, Cullinane DC, Falank CR, Phillips RC, Kemp MT, Alam HB, Udekwu PO, Sanin GD, Hildreth AN, Biffl WL, Schaffer KB, Marshall G, Muttalib O, Nahmias J, Shahi N, Moulton SL, Maxwell RA. Management of blunt traumatic abdominal wall hernias: A Western Trauma Association multicenter study. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2021 Nov 1;91(5):834-840. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000003250. PMID: 34695060.