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Treatment for a Leg Hernia

A hernia occurs when a portion of the intestine bursts through the abdominal wall. In a femoral, or leg, hernia, the protrusion appears just below the crease of the groin.

  1. Identification

    • A femoral hernia occurs when an intestinal sac drops into the femoral canal. This can disrupt the femoral vein, which carries blood from the leg.

    Fact

    • Femoral hernias are much more common in women than men, which is due to women having a larger gap between the lower portion of the pelvic bone and femoral vein.

    Consideration

    • Femoral hernias are highly prone to strangulation. Treatment should be sought as soon as possible to prevent complications.

    Tissue Repair

    • The traditional method of treatment is to make an incision over the hernia and manually return the intestine to its proper position. The abdominal tissue is then pulled back together and sutured into place.

    Tension-Free Repair

    • A newer type of femoral hernia repair is known as a tension-free procedure, in which a small incision, between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 inches long, is made in order to insert pieces of mesh to repair the damage.

    Time Frame

    • Recovery from a tissue repair surgery takes between four and six weeks, while the recuperation period from a tension-free procedure can be as little as three days.

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