Inguinal hernia: an Overview

Abstract

A hernia is the protrusion of a viscus or a part of it though a defect in the walls of its containing cavity. A hernia may be internal when the protrusion is not seen on the body wall or external when the protrusion may be seen on the body wall. External hernias, including inguinal, femoral, epigastric, incisional, umbilical, paraumbilical, lumbar, spigelian, obturator and sciatic hernias are commoner than internal hernias. Inguinal hernias, i.e. hernia occurring through the inguinal canals, are the commonest type of all hernias . It may account for 75-90% of al external hernias. All over the world, surgeries for inguinal hernias remain one of the most common elective operations performed by general surgeons . In developing countries such as Nigeria, many patients present first with complications of inguinal hernias .Inguinal hernias are commoner in males and may occur in all age groups.

IFEMED Journal Vol. 14 (1) 2008: pp. 86-89