Surgical reconstruction of a traumatic abdominal hernia with pubic avulsion in a canine

Abstract

The case of a 5-year-old mixed-breed female canine who was brought to consultation after having suffered a car accident is reported. The animal had a large bulge in the caudal abdominal region. The physical examination showed that the mass was the product of a large eventration (intestinal loops and bladder). During the thoracic radiological examination, a slight pneumothorax was observed in the right hemithorax and partial collapse of the lung lobes on the left side, while the abdominal ultrasound ruled out further visceral involvement and confirmed the absence of a hernial sac. Once stabilization was achieved, the patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy where severe avulsion of the internal and external oblique, transverse and rectus abdominis muscles was confirmed at the insertion site to the cranial edge of the pubis. Surgical reconstruction of the abdominal wall at the pre-pubic level was carried out, through direct tissue apposition to correct such defects. One month after the surgical treatment, the patient's stability was confirmed.