Spontaneous rapture of an incisional hernia: A case report

Abstract

An incisional hernia develops in the scar of a surgical incision. Rarely, a particularly thin-walled large incisional hernia may actually ulcerate at its fundus so that omentum protrudes or there is even the development of an intestinal fistula. Spontaneous rupture of an abdominal hernia is very rare and usually occurs in incisional or recurrent groin hernia¹. Von Helwig² in 1958 reported 47 cases of spontaneous exteriorization of bowel through abdominal hernia, out of these 17 cases were through incisional hernia while others were through inguinal, femoral, umbilical and epigastric hernias. The site of rupture is different in diverse studies. Hartley³ and Hamilton⁴ reported rupture through thr lower midline incision while Aggarwal⁵ found herniation after upper abdominal surgery following perforated duodenal ulcer.