From Trauma to Renewal

      He was an elderly man who had survived a devastating motor vehicle accident with severe abdominal injuries.

      An emergency operation saved his life.He survived—against the odds.

        Yet six months later, when he returned to the clinic, his abdomen was visibly protruding and persistently painful.
      Imaging revealed a severe post-traumatic abdominal wall hernia.

    In a low voice, he said,

“That surgery saved me… but these past few years have been very hard to live through.”

    Standing beside him, his wife wiped away tears and said,

“We’re willing to go through another surgery. We just want him to live well again.”

      At that moment, I was reminded that the work of trauma surgeons is not only about saving lives—but about helping patients reclaim their lives.

The Burden of Abdominal Wall Hernia

           An abdominal wall hernia occurs when abdominal organs or fat protrude through weakened muscle layers.

          It commonly develops after trauma or surgery, particularly when wound healing is incomplete or intra-abdominal pressure remains high—creating a permanent structural defect.

         For patients, this condition leads to abdominal deformity, weakness, and chronic pain.
Simple daily activities—walking, eating, bending—can become exhausting challenges.

While not immediately life-threatening, abdominal wall hernias can profoundly impair quality of life, dignity, and self-confidence.

Traditional Surgery vs. Robotic Reconstruction

          In the past, abdominal wall reconstruction required long incisions, extensive dissection of the abdominal wall, adhesiolysis, and complex muscular repair.

            These procedures often involved prolonged operative time, significant blood loss, marked postoperative pain, and recovery periods extending beyond two weeks.

           For elderly patients or those with multiple prior surgeries, such operations posed substantial physical and psychological challenges.

        In recent years, the Department of Trauma Surgery at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital has introduced Robotic Abdominal Wall Reconstruction.

Dr. Chang explains:

   “This technology allows us to achieve reconstructions that once required large open incisions—now through a minimally invasive approach.”

         The procedure typically requires only three to four small incisions.
Using robotic instruments under a three-dimensional magnified view, surgeons can:

• Precisely dissect adhesions
• Repair large fascial defects
• Re-approximate and medialize weakened muscles
• Secure mesh to restore abdominal wall tension and integrity

          The robotic system replicates human wrist movements with exceptional flexibility and stability.

         As a result, patients experience less blood loss, reduced pain, faster recovery, and most can be discharged within three to five days.

Rebuilding More Than the Abdominal Wall

            After undergoing robotic reconstruction, the elderly man’s large abdominal defect was successfully repaired.

          By postoperative day three, he was able to get out of bed independently.

      At follow-up, he stood upright and smiled, saying,

“Doctor, I can walk around the market again.”

       That smile is what every physician hopes to see.

Dr. Chang reflects:

   “Robotic surgery allows us to bring precision and minimally invasive principles into post-traumatic reconstruction.
With just a few small incisions, we can help patients return to normal life.
This is one of the gentlest advances in trauma surgery.”

Encouragement and Clinical Reminder

        Abdominal wall hernia is not a trivial condition.

         Symptoms such as abdominal bulging, pain, bloating, or difficulty passing gas or stool should prompt early medical evaluation.

         In the past, many patients delayed treatment due to fear of surgery or the belief that they could simply endure the condition.

       Today, with the maturation of minimally invasive and robotic techniques, surgical repair has become safer, more effective, and more tolerable.

Dr. Chang encourages patients:

    “If you are willing to face the problem, there is a chance for renewal.
Do not let an abdominal defect become a lifelong burden.
Modern medicine can help rebuild not only the abdomen—but also confidence and dignity.”

Conclusion | From Trauma to Hope

          In trauma medicine, we race against time—but we also walk alongside life.

           The robotic arms in the operating room are not merely symbols of technology.
They are extensions of the surgeon—steadier, more precise, and gentler.

            The trauma surgery team at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital believes that
every scar can be mended with expertise and compassion.

          From emergency care to reconstruction, we protect not only life itself,
but also the moment when a patient can once again stand tall and smile as they return to daily living.

Keywords: Abdominal wall hernia, abdominal wall reconstruction, post-traumatic rehabilitation, robotic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, trauma surgery

Figure legends:
A. CT scan showing a large right lower abdominal wall hernia with bowel protrusion.
B. Preoperative surface marking of the abdominal wall hernia to guide minimally invasive surgery.
C. Precise docking and setup of the robotic system to ensure optimal surgeon control during the procedure.

Tomography scan showed a large abdominal wall hernia with exposed intestines in the right lower quadrant.

Marking abdominal wall hernias before surgery helps in minimally invasive procedures.

The robotic arm must be set up precisely and accurately to facilitate subsequent operation by the surgeon.