{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Bone Anchor Fixation in the Repair of Blunt Traumatic Abdominal Wall Hernias: A Western Trauma Association Multicenter Study.
{Author}: Harrell KN;Grimes AD;Gill H;Reynolds JK;Ueland WR;Sciarretta JD;Todd SR;Trust MD;Ngoue M;Thomas BW;Ayuso SA;LaRiccia A;Spalding CM;Collins MJ;Collier BR;Karam BS;de Moya MA;Lieser MJ;Chipko JM;Haan JM;Lightwine KL;Cullinane DC;Falank CR;Phillips RC;Kemp MT;Alam HB;Udekwu PO;Sanin GD;Hildreth AN;Biffl WL;Schaffer KB;Marshall G;Muttalib O;Nahmias J;Shahi N;Moulton SL;Maxwell RA;
{Journal}: Am Surg
{Volume}: 90
{Issue}: 6
{Year}: 2024 Jun
{Factor}: 1.002
{DOI}: 10.1177/00031348241227195
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Blunt traumatic abdominal wall hernias (TAWHs) are rare but require a variety of operative techniques to repair including bone anchor fixation (BAF) when tissue tears off bony structures. This study aimed to provide a descriptive analysis of BAF technique for blunt TAWH repair. Bone anchor fixation and no BAF repairs were compared, hypothesizing increased hernia recurrence with BAF repair.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A secondary analysis of the WTA blunt TAWH multicenter study was performed including all patients who underwent repair of their TAWH. Patients with BAF were compared to those with no BAF with bivariate analyses.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>176 patients underwent repair of their TAWH with 41 (23.3%) undergoing BAF. 26 (63.4%) patients had tissue fixed to bone, with 7 of those reinforced with mesh. The remaining 15 (36.6%) patients had bridging mesh anchored to bone. The BAF group had a similar age, sex, body mass index, and injury severity score compared to the no BAF group. The time to repair (1 vs 1 days, P = .158), rate of hernia recurrence (9.8% vs 12.7%, P = .786), and surgical site infection (SSI) (12.5% vs 15.6%, P = .823) were all similar between cohorts.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>This largest series to date found nearly one-quarter of TAWH repairs required BAF. Bone anchor fixation repairs had a similar rate of hernia recurrence and SSI compared to no BAF repairs, suggesting this is a reasonable option for repair of TAWH. However, future prospective studies are needed to compare specific BAF techniques and evaluate long-term outcomes including patient-centered outcomes such as pain and quality of life.