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Topic: The New Concept in Abdominal Wall Repair

Guest Editor

Prof. René Fortelny

Univ.-Prof. Dr. René H. Fortelny is a general and
visceral surgeon specialising in hernia surgery at
the Wilhelminenspital in Vienna. In addition to his
experimental work at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for

Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, he conducts
numerous clinical studies at national and international level.
Since 2011, in his function as President of the Austrian

Hernia Society, he has also served on the Board of the Austrian Society of Surgery.
As the elected Congress President of the European Hernia Society, Prof. Fortelny is
organising the annual congress at the Hofburg in Vienna in May 2017.

Special Issue introduction:

The integrity of the abdominal wall is vital as it protects the internal organs, supports

the spine and helps maintain an upright posture. Patients with complex hernias,
recurrence of previously repaired hernias, or abdominal trauma may have abdominal
wall defects. Abdominal wall reconstruction surgery is an advanced surgical
procedure that strengthens a weakened or damaged abdominal muscle and restores the

normal function of the abdominal wall. However, the management of abdominal wall
defects is challenging and complex. This Special Issue aims to discuss key technology
in abdominal wall repair, the complex cases and the different surgical approaches to
explore a new future development direction in abdominal wall repair and better serve

patients.