Hernias are a common medical conditions that surgeons treat. They can occur not only in a variety of sites in the body, but also for a variety of different reasons as well. Inguinal hernias refer to herniation of tissue in the region of the lower abdomen and groin and are treated with a variety of different repairs. The anterior free tension technique, laparoscopic technique, or preperitoneal technique are examples of different procedures surgeons use to treat hernias. However, despite all the advances in technology, complications are common and surgeons have to devise ways to prevent and eventually treat them.
Infection
Infection is a common complication of all surgeries and hernia repair is no exception. Infection can occur in the superficial skin where the incision is made to the muscles of the abdominal wall overlying the abdominal organs to organ tissue that is herniating through the muscles. Infection can usually be treated with antibiotics and in extreme cases can require surgical debridement of infected tissue.
Nerve Injuries
Nerves can be damaged from various sources such as surgical instruments, traction applied while holding the wound open, and entrapment between tissue or graft implants left in to prevent hernia recurrence. Nerves most commonly damaged are the ilioinguinal, genitofemoral, and iliohypogastric nerves. These can result in sensory disturbances that can be transient or permanent, such as numbness in the area of nerve supply that has been irreparably damaged.
Recurrence
Hernias are notorious for recurring despite surgical intervention. If they recur, they most often do in the first two years after repair, according to Townsend. Once they recur, a prosthetic mesh is put in to successfully prevent further recurrences.
Injury to Surrounding Tissue
While unusual, damage can occur to tissue in the site of surgery. This includes structures such as intraabdominal tissue or the vas deferens, which are male reproductive structures that are found in the inguinal region. Careful surgical technique to identify and protect these structures makes this complication rarer than most.
References
- “Surgical Clinics of North America.” Open Repair of Inguinal Hernia: An Evidence-Based Review. Woods, B et al. Volume 88, February 2008
- “Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 18th Edition;” Townsend; 2007
