Case report of a traumatic abdominal wall hernia resulting from fallingonto a flat surface

Abstract

This article reports a case of high-energy type traumatic abdominal wall hernia (TAWH) associated with multiple organ injuries including pelvic fractures, liver laceration and ascending colon perforation. The cause of the trauma was falling to the ground from a height of approximately 8 meters. Since the forces affecting the abdomen are unique when falling on a flat surface, the mechanism of defect may be different between a low-energy type handlebar hernia and high-energy type TAWH. Only a few cases of highenergy type TAWH exist in the literature, all reporting falling on or hitting an angled or curved material. To our knowledge, this is the only report of TAWH resulting from falling onto a flat surface. The diagnosis and management are summarized, the literature data are reviewed, and the mechanism of action is discussed.