Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Dec;25(6):1621-1628.
doi: 10.1007/s10029-020-02194-7. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Primary thoracoabdominal hernias

M Alayon-Rosario  1 , K Schlosser  2 , T Griscom  2 , W Bolton  3 , A Hall  1 , V Augenstein  2 , W S Cobb  1   4 , J A Warren  5   6 , A M Carbonell  1   4
Affiliations

Primary thoracoabdominal hernias

M Alayon-Rosario et al. Hernia. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Primary thoracoabdominal hernias involve the triad of an intercostal hernia, abdominal wall hernia, and diaphragmatic hernia. We report a case series of this rare entity and describe the evolution and outcomes.

Methods: We completed a retrospective analysis of thoracoabdominal hernia repairs performed January 2010-April 2019 at Prisma Health-Upstate and Carolinas Medical Center. This includes all patients with spontaneous defects, excluding incisional hernias or those resulting from external trauma.

Results: Of 16 patients with thoracoabdominal hernias, 15 patients developed hernias after forceful coughing and one patient developed a hernia after strenuous physical activity. Seven patients required at least one additional intervention; two for recurrence; two for recurrence of original intercostal repairs done elsewhere; two for wound complications; and one had a missed abdominal wall component.

Conclusions: Primary thoracoabdominal hernias require a high index of suspicion. Durable repair involves complex reconstruction of the thoracoabdominal wall including the diaphragm, intercostal space, rib fracture fixation, and mesh reinforcement of the abdominal wall with permanent fixation constructs.

Keywords: Rib fracture and hernia; Spontaneous diaphragm hernia; Spontaneous intercostal hernia; Spontaneous thoracoabdominal hernia; Thoracoabdominal hernia.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Benizri EI, Delotte J, Severac M et al (2013) Post-traumatic transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia: report of two cases. Surg Today 43:96–99 - DOI
    1. Bendinelli C, Martin A, Nebauer SD, Balogh ZJ (2012) Strangulated intercostal liver herniation subsequent to blunt trauma. First report with review of the world literature. World J Emerg Surg 7:23–24 - DOI
    1. Sharma OP, Duffy B (2001) Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia: review of the world literature and presentation of a case. J Trauma 50:1140–1143 - DOI
    1. Best IM (2001) Complication of the retroperitoneal approach: intercostal abdominal hernia. Am Surg 67:635–636 - PubMed
    1. Szentkereszty Z, Boros M, Sápy P, Kiss SS (2006) Surgical treatment of intercostal hernia with implantation of polypropylene mesh. Hernia 10:354–356 - DOI

LinkOut - more resources