Traumatic abdominal wall hernia: an unusual bicycle handlebar injury

Abstract

Traumatic hernia of the abdominal wall is rare. The mechanism of injury can be severe such as a motor vehicle accident or relatively minor such as a fall onto a bicycle handlebar. In children traumatic abdominal wall hernia can occur even after relatively minor trauma and these cases typically have no associated intra-abdominal injury. We report a traumatic hernia of the anterior abdominal wall in a 7-year-old boy following a fall from a bicycle. A review of the literature revealed only nine similar reports. The presence of localised pain, bruising, and a reducible swelling or a cough impulse suggests the diagnosis. Primary repair with prosthetic material is the preferred treatment.