Traumatic lumbar hernia: clinical features and management

PURPOSE: Traumatic lumbar hernia is rare, thus making diagnosis and proper treatment challenging. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the clinical manifestations and proper management strategies of traumatic lumbar hernias. METHODS: The medical records of patients with traumatic lumbar hernia treated at Gachon University Gil Hospital from March 2006 to February 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: We included 5 men and 4 women (mean age, 55 years; range, 23-71 years). In 8 patients, most injuries were caused by motor vehicle collisions, including those wherein a pedestrian was struck (5 cases of car accidents, 2 falls, and 1 involving penetrating materials); in 1 patient, the probable cause was severe cough. Eight patients underwent hernia repair surgery (5 open and 3 laparoscopic), and a prosthetic mesh was used in 7 patients. Hernia repairs were elective in 7 patients; emergency hernia repair was performed with right hemicolectomy in 1 patient. No severe complication or recurrence was observed. Only 2 patients had mild complications, such as postoperative seroma. CONCLUSION: Traumatic lumbar hernia is a relatively rare injury of the posteriolateral abdominal wall. Lumbar hernia should be suspected in patients with high-energy injuries of the torso, and all such patients should undergo abdominopelvic computed tomography. After diagnosis, hernia repair can be electively performed without complications in most cases.