The early laparoscopic repair of a traumatic lumbar hernia: safe and successful.

Abdominal wall hernias are a rare but important consequence of blunt trauma. The optimal timing and the method of repair are not well described in the current surgical literature. Advances in laparoscopic techniques have offered new options for treatment of this problem. We describe the case of a 43-year-old man who suffered a blunt traumatic lumbar hernia. He was taken to the operating room during his initial hospitalization where a laparoscopic repair was performed with the additional implantation of prosthetic mesh. His post-operative course was uneventful. In selected cases, early operative repair may be appropriate and result in improved outcomes.