Traumatic abdominal wall injuries: a review

Abstract

Traumatic abdominal wall injuries have been described in literature for over 100 years. These injuries involve abdominal wall from skin to the level of fascia. These are often associated with underlying visceral injuries. The diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion and is based on clinical examination and radiologic investigations. Management ranges from conservative management to complex abdominal wall reconstruction. In the following review we describe the incidence, clinical features, diagnosis, management and possible interventions for prevention of these injuries.