Traumatic Spigelian Hernia in Adults: A Rare Clinical Scenario

ABSTRACT

Handlebar hernias are very rare and arise following a sudden force from a handle-like object impacting a focal area of the abdomen, which results in a disruption of the underlying abdominal muscle and fascia without necessarily disrupting the overlying skin. Other than a reducible swelling on the abdominal wall, the physical examination of such patients is usually unremarkable and the diagnosis could easily be missed. Delay in the diagnosis can lead to incarceration or strangulation of bowel loops and subsequent morbidity. A large proportion of reported cases are in children. Here, we are reporting a case of traumatic Spigelian hernia following blunt trauma in an adult male. The significance of our case is that it provides some evidence that blunt trauma to abdomen may play an etiological role in development of some Spigelian hernias in adult as well.