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Book

Femoral Hernia

Andrea Goethals  1 , Chaudhary Ehtsham Azmat  2 , Parth J. Patel  3 , Curtis T. Adams  4
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Book

Femoral Hernia

Andrea Goethals et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

A hernia is defined as an abnormal protrusion of an organ or tissue through a defect in its surrounding walls. Hernia defects may occur in various locations of the abdominal wall, but most commonly occur in the inguinal region (see Image. Abdominal Hernias). Hernias can occur at sites where the aponeurosis and fascia are not covered by striated muscle. As a result, the peritoneal membrane or hernia sac may protrude from the orifice or neck of a hernia.

A femoral hernia occurs in the femoral canal and is bordered by the inguinal ligament anterosuperiorly, Cooper's ligament inferiorly, the femoral vein laterally, and the junction of the iliopubic tract and Cooper's ligament (lacunar ligament) medially. A femoral hernia typically presents with a characteristic bulge below the inguinal ligament. Strangulation is the most common serious complication of a femoral hernia; these hernias have the highest rate of strangulation (15% to 20%).

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Andrea Goethals declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Chaudhary Ehtsham Azmat declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Parth Patel declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Curtis Adams declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

    1. HerniaSurge Group. International guidelines for groin hernia management. Hernia. 2018 Feb;22(1):1-165. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Shakil A, Aparicio K, Barta E, Munez K. Inguinal Hernias: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2020 Oct 15;102(8):487-492. - PubMed
    1. Halgas B, Viera J, Dilday J, Bader J, Holt D. Femoral Hernias: Analysis of Preoperative Risk Factors and 30-Day Outcomes of Initial Groin Hernias Using ACS-NSQIP. Am Surg. 2018 Sep 01;84(9):1455-1461. - PubMed
    1. Beji H, Bouassida M, Chtourou MF, Zribi S, Laamiri G, Kallel Y, Mroua B, Mighri MM, Touinsi H. Predictive factors of bowel necrosis in patients with incarcerated femoral hernia. Hernia. 2023 Dec;27(6):1491-1496. - PubMed
    1. Niebuhr H, König A, Pawlak M, Sailer M, Köckerling F, Reinpold W. Groin hernia diagnostics: dynamic inguinal ultrasound (DIUS). Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2017 Nov;402(7):1039-1045. - PubMed

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