Femoral Hernia Surgery

A hernia is the abnormal bulging of an internal organ (usually the intestine) through a tear or weakness in the abdominal wall. Many people suffer no pain or symptoms from hernias. However, hernias become potentially serious if the intestine becomes trapped in the balloon-like sac formed by the bulging area. The surgeons at Arizona Advanced Surgery have specialized training in both open (traditional) and minimally invasive (laparoscopic) hernia repair techniques.

Femoral Hernia

A femoral hernia is a bulge in the upper part of the thigh near the groin that happens when a loop of intestine or abdominal tissue pushes through a tear or weak spot in the muscle layer of the abdomen.

Symptoms

Most femoral hernias do not cause symptoms. The bulge may be visible below the groin in the upper thigh. Some symptoms may include:

Discomfort when standing, lifting heavy objects or straining

When tissue inside the hernia becomes stuck or trapped (incarcerated) in the bulging abdominal muscle, it can lead to a potentially life-threatening condition and requires emergency surgery. Symptoms include:

Sudden groin pain
Sudden abdominal pain
Severe nausea or vomiting

Seek medical treatment immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

Diagnosis

To diagnose a femoral hernia, the doctor conducts a physical examination of your abdomen. Your doctor will ask you questions about hernia symptoms. If there is any doubt about the physical exam findings, an ultrasound or a CT scan may be performed.

Treatment

Femoral hernias are more likely to become incarcerated than other types of hernia. There is no treatment option other than surgery. Left untreated, most hernias will increase in size. Arizona Advanced Surgery offers both open and laparoscopic hernia repair options. We will carefully evaluate your hernia before recommending a type of surgery.

"Open" hernia repair: The surgeon makes an incision in the patient's groin area, and locates the hernia to separate it from the tissues around it. The surgeon may also remove extra hernia tissue. The surgeon then pushes the intestine back into place in the abdomen, reinforces the abdominal wall with a piece of mesh, then closes the weakened abdominal muscles with stitches.

Laparoscopy: A laparoscopic femoral hernia repair is performed through several small incisions using a small hollow tube holding a laparoscope (tiny camera) that allows the surgeon to view the hernia and surrounding tissue while repairing the hernia with synthetic mesh. The benefits of laparoscopic repair are less scarring, faster healing time and less pain.