Traumatic Abdominal Wall Hernia: systematic review of recent literature

Introduction: Traumatic abdominal wall hernias (TAWHs) are rare injuries, most often resulting from blunt trauma in motor vehicle accidents. Their diverse, uncommon, and often acute nature makes treatment planning challenging, with no consensus on the optimal approach, including the timing and type of surgery, and the role, selection, and fixation techniques of mesh. Aim: The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the recent literature on traumatic abdominal wall hernias in adults, including their epidemiology, diagnosis, associated injuries, and management, with particular emphasis on the timing and type of repair and the use of mesh. Material and methods: We conducted a systematic review of the recent literature on TAWHs, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic search of the PubMed database was conducted to identify studies published between 2014 and the first half of 2024. All English-language studies documenting TAWH in adult patients were included. Results: In the literature review, 70 articles describing 721 cases were included. The main limitation was that most articles were case reports or case series. The results confirmed substantial variability in treatment selection. Conclusions: Traumatic abdominal wall hernias are rare, heterogeneous, and clinically significant conditions with no established treatment algorithm. More research is needed to help guide surgeons in the management of such hernias.