The Different Types of Abdominal Hernias

A hernia occurs when an organ or piece of tissue protrudes and pushes against or through another organ or part of the body. In the case of an abdominal hernia, a piece of bowel or body tissue pushes up against a weak spot on the abdominal wall, causing it to break through and lead to a feeling of weakness, pressure, burning, or pain in the abdomen, groin, or scrotum. You may also notice a bulge or lump in one of those areas, and can experience pain when having a bowel movement, lifting or coughing. Since hernias come in all shapes and sizes, here is a list of the most common types of abdominal hernias and how they occur:

Hernias of the Abdominal and Pelvic Floor:

• Inguinal Hernias are mostly predominant in men, occurring when the opening to the inguinal canal, the canal that allows the spermatic cord and testicles to descend, does not close up tightly enough after puberty.
• Femoral Hernias are present when a weak spot forms where the femoral artery and vein pass through the abdomen and into the leg. These are more likely to occur in women.
• Obturator Hernias are less common, but are brought on by multiple pregnancies or significant weight loss that weakens the obturator canal.

Hernias of the Abdominal Wall:

• Epigastric Hernias are characteristic of infants where a weakness of the midline of the abdominal wall exists. Adults who do not catch this hernia at a young age may notice a bulge between their breastbone and belly button.
• Umbilical Hernias occur near the belly button of a newborn, creating an abnormal bulge. Most times these hernias will self-correct and do not require treatment.
• Spigelian Hernias are extremely rare, occurring on the outside edges of the rectus abdominus muscle.
• Incisional Hernias are a result of surgical complications where an abdominal muscle has been cut for a procedure, resulting in a weakened area susceptible to hernias.

Hernias of the Diaphragm:

• Hiatal Hernias can lead to serious complications and occur when a portion of the stomach slides into the chest through an opening in the diaphragm.
• Traumatic Diaphragmatic Hernias are usually a result of major traumatic injury from blunt trauma, stabbing or gunshot wounds.
• Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia are caused by a rare occurrence where the diaphragm does not completely close during fetal development. This can lead to serious complications within the lungs and their development.

If you or someone that you know is dealing with the uncomfortable and potentially dangerous effects of a hernia, give Great South Bay Surgical Associates a call at 631-321-6801. Our surgeons are trained and skillful in all aspects of open and minimally invasive hernia correction procedures, and are guaranteed to handle your surgery with precision and care.