Pediatric Traumatic Lumbar Hernias and Associated Injuries

Objective Traumatic lumbar hernias are a rare entity mostly seen with high-impact, blunt abdominal trauma. This injury occurs when there is disruption of the posterior musculature along with bony structures, allowing for herniation of abdominal contents. There are minimal cases of this entity reported in adults, but even fewer in the pediatric population. Methods We describe 3 cases of traumatic lumbar hernia at our institution as well as provide a review of the literature to elucidate the most common mechanisms, severity of injury, and associated injuries. Results Traumatic lumbar hernia is most commonly seen in restrained passengers involved in motor vehicle collisions. A majority of cases are diagnosed using computed tomography imaging and less frequently during primary surgical exploration. The most common associated injuries were mesenteric and bowel injuries, followed by spinal and chest trauma. Traumatic lumbar hernia often leads to prolonged hospital stays and increased need for posthospital rehabilitation because of associated traumatic comorbidities. Conclusions Traumatic lumbar hernia is a rare entity in children, and early suspicion and identification of associated injuries is necessary in the management of these patients.