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What Are Hernias?

A hernia is a very common medical condition that occurs when an organ or body tissue protrudes through the wall of the body cavity in which it is contained. Hernias are most often experienced when intestine or fatty tissue protrudes through an opening or weakness in the wall of the abdomen. Imagine a tire that has split open and the inner tube bulges beyond the tire's outer wall.

Abdominal hernias may be asymptomatic or a source of tenderness and pain. Patients usually notice a developing hernia as a bulge or localized area of swelling that can be felt beneath the skin. Exercising, coughing, straining, lifting or anything else that increases pressure on the abdomen can cause the hernia to expand.

Serious complications can result from hernias that are left untreated. Tissue that becomes incarcerated, or trapped within the hernia, can be cut off from its blood supply — a strangulated hernia is an emergency situation and requires immediate surgery. If bowel material is contained within the hernia, normal flow through the intestines can be slowed or stopped.

Types of Abdominal Wall Hernias

Inguinal Hernias

Up to 75% of abdominal wall hernias are inguinal hernias, which appear as a bulge in the groin area. Inguinal hernias are much more common in men than in women. The bulge may develop over a period of weeks or months, or may suddenly appear after lifting weights, coughing or straining.

Inguinal hernias form due to a weakness or opening in the lower abdomen where the thigh joins the torso, a region called the inguinal canal. Tissue contained within the abdomen, such as intestine, may protrude through the opening and cause aching or burning sensations. Inguinal hernias gradually increase in size and grow increasingly more uncomfortable.

Hernias that form in the inguinal canal are diagnosed as either indirect or direct:

Indirect inguinal hernias occur as a result of a congenital condition that allows abdominal contents to protrude through the inguinal ring and into the inguinal canal. They may affect younger people, and even children.
Direct inguinal hernias, which are more common in older males, occur when the hernia contents enter the inguinal canal through a gap in the inguinal floor. These hernias are considered to be acquired rather than congenital and can be caused by heavy lifting or other activities that put pressure on the groin area.

Sports Hernias

A medical condition of the goin that affects athletes is known as a sports hernia, or athletic pubalgia. They are characterized by a weakening of the muscles in the lower abdominal wall in the same areas where inguinal hernias occur, resulting in pain and stiffness. Procedures that are similar to surgery performed for inguinal hernias are often effective for alleviating the pain and soreness caused by sports hernias.

Femoral Hernias

These hernias occur when abdominal contents pass through the femoral canal, causing a bulge in the upper thigh just below the inguinal crease. Femoral hernias are more common in women, but can develop in both sexes.

Femoral hernias are at an increased risk of becoming strangulated by the loss of their blood supply. Strangulated hernias require emergency surgery because they can cause tissue death and cause severe nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Umbilical Hernias

These hernias occur when portions of intestine protrude through a opening of the abdominal wall at the belly button. Umbilical hernias are common in infants, but the hernia usually shrinks away on its own by the time the child is 2 to 4 years old. Larger hernias that do not close on their own or affect the blood supply may require surgery. Umbilical hernias are also common in adults, especially for people who are overweight and women after pregnancy.

Incisional Hernias

The stretching or thinning of scar tissue that forms after abdominal surgery can cause a weakness in the abdomninal wall. Incisional hernias occur when tissue protrudes through an opening at the site of a prior surgery. They can vary greatly in size and tend to form along a straight line from the breastbone to the pubis. Surgery is usually recommended for people with incisional hernias to avoid the possibility of strangulation of the hernia.

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Birmingham, Alabama Hernia Repair Surgery

Surgeons at work in outpatient surgery suite The skilled, experienced hernia surgeons at the Alabama Hernia Center™ use the most advanced surgical techniques available to repair abdominal hernias at our Birmingham-Hoover area offices and outpatient surgery suite. Many hernia repairs can be performed with minimally-invasive laparoscopic surgery, which results in less tissue disruption and an easier, quicker recovery for the patient.

We believe in conducting a thorough process of evaluation and diagnosis to help each patient determine their hernia repair options. Please call our Birmingham, Alabama surgery center at call (205) 980-1744 or send an email today to set up your consultation for Alabama hernia surgery.

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