Femoral Hernia

Hernias happen when an internal part of your body pushes through a weak spot in your muscles. Hernias can appear anywhere between the chest and hips, and they can be classified into different types according to where they occur.

Hernias are commonly classified into four types: inguinal (inner groin), incisional (caused by an incision), femoral (outer groin), umbilical (belly button), and hiatal (upper stomach). Below, we have discussed everything you need to know about the femoral hernia in detail. Keep reading to learn more.

What Is Femoral Hernia

Your organs and intestines are held into place with strong muscle walls. In the event of a weak spot in a wall, the intestines or organs may protrude through it, resulting in a bulge. An occurrence of this in the femoral canal is known as a femoral hernia. 

Typically, this type of hernia is caused when the abdominal viscera and omentum pass into the femoral canal and through the femoral ring. It is relatively uncommon to have a femoral hernia, but it can cause serious complications because of its high strangulation rate. Women are at greater risk of femoral hernias than men, as they have wider bony pelvises than men and children.

In most cases, femoral hernias cause a small swelling under the groin crease, sometimes just under the crease. You will notice swelling on your thigh when this happens.

Understanding the Femoral Canal

Femoral canals are anatomical compartments in the anterior thigh. They are 1.3cm long and the smallest component of the femoral sheath. 

A connective tissue layer, called the femoral septum, covers the superior border (femoral ring) of the femoral canal. Since the concave margin of the lacunar ligament is rigid, femoral hernias are very prone to complications that require emergency surgery.

What Causes Femoral Hernia

In some cases, the defect in the muscle wall through which your intra-abdominal tissues push through is present at birth. On the other hand, some people may develop it later in life because of overstraining.

Overstraining can be caused by:

• Heavy lifting
• Childbirth
• Severe coughing
• Obesity 

Symptoms of Femoral Hernia

Unlike the other types of hernia, the physical symptoms of a femoral hernia are not as visible unless the condition is severe. If you have a small femoral hernia, you are unlikely to notice a bulge. This is why a femoral hernia is referred to as dangerous because you cannot see a symptom until it gets severe and causes strangulation.

Stuck hernias can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, on their way to strangulation. If an intestine loop or knuckle is inside the hernia sac, you need immediate surgery.

However, if you are dealing with a large femoral hernia, then you might be able to see a bulge in the groin area or the upper thigh. A bulge like this can cause discomfort when you are lifting an object or engaging in other physical activities.

Some of the initial symptoms of femoral hernias are sudden groin pain, nausea, and vomiting. 

Diagnosis

If you think you have a hernia, you should see your healthcare provider for a physical exam. A doctor will first examine the area and then may order imaging tests, such as ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRIs. Using these, they can observe the internal tissues and distinguish between a femoral hernia and an inguinal hernia.

Complications 

There are additional symptoms and complications caused by a femoral hernia that has become incarcerated, obstructed, or strangulated.

• Incarcerated femoral hernia - this occurs when the hernia has become trapped in the femoral canal and cannot be pushed back into place.
• Obstructed femoral hernia - this occurs when the hernia and part of the intestine become entangled, causing pain.
• Strangulated femoral hernia - this is a life-threatening condition that arises when a hernia blocks the blood flow to the bowels. The symptoms of strangulated femoral hernia include fever, nausea, and vomiting.

Treatment of Femoral Hernia

An individual's treatment will depend on the severity of their femoral hernia. You might not require immediate surgery if you have a small or asymptomatic femoral hernia. However, surgical intervention is required for all cases of moderate to large femoral hernias.

There are two types of surgeries that can be performed to treat femoral hernia:

• Open surgery - this surgery is performed under general anesthesia and involves making an incision near the site of the hernia. After that, the doctor massages the bulging tissue/intestine into the abdomen, then uses mesh and stitches to strengthen the defect in the abdominal wall. 
• Laparoscopy - this procedure involves making small incisions in the groin area and inserting a small camera (laparoscope) through them. The doctor uses the laparoscope to view the site of the hernia and then repairs it. In this method as well, the defective site is repaired using prosthetic mesh, followed by stitches. 

There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods, but doctors tend to recommend laparoscopy because it is less invasive and the recovery process is shorter than open repair surgery. 

Risks of Surgery

Femoral hernia repair is generally a safe process. However, in some cases, the following uncommon complications might develop:

• Leg weakness 
• Bowel injury
• Nerve injury
• Pain in the groin area 

The best way to avoid such complications is by choosing a professional surgeon for your surgery. We at Hernia Innovations have a team of professionals with a high success rate that you can count on for your femoral hernia repair.