A hernia is a common problem that is a result of a laxity or weakness in a muscle and/or fascial layer that results in the protrusion of fat or intestines from the inner abdominal cavity protruding through muscle layers which can cause a visible bulge and/or pain. (Hernia actually comes from the Greek word hernios and refers to a bulging or rupture and can also refer to parts of the body not related to the abdominal cavity, for example another common "hernia" is disc herniation whereby part of ones's vertebral disk herniates towards the spinal cord causing nerve pain and weakness). Hernias likely have a genetic component and also are correlated to pressure and certain lifting movements.
Are hernias dangerous?
Most hernias are not life-threatening. However if a hernia becomes incarcerated (stuck, not reducible), or strangulated (very painful where the blood flow is restricted), these can be emergency situations. Hernias often cause decreased quality of life and can grow larger with time leading to more symptoms. For this reason, many hernias are recommended to be repaired surgically.
What are the different types of hernias?
Common hernia types include inguinal (groin and femoral), umbilical (belly button), abdominal (ventral, flank, epigastric, Spigelian), incisional (at a previous incision), and hiatal hernias.
Which hernias do we treat?
We specialize in inguinal and umbilical hernia repairs and also offer additional hernia repairs including non-mesh options. We do not currently offer treatment for hiatal hernias although we can help with work-up and direction if surgical repair is indicated.
Is hernia mesh safe?
The standard accepted answer in the surgical community is that yes the use of mesh is safe. And while we generally agrees with that, we believe that mesh is over-utilized in the USA especially with primary inguinal hernias which now have multiple well-studied surgical techniques available that do not require the use of permanent mesh.