Our abdominal muscles are strong enough to hold the intestines and other organs at their right spots. At times, the intra-abdominal tissues can be pushed through a debilitated spot in muscle during overstretching. In case a part of tissue pushes through the mass of the femoral canal, it is known as a femoral hernia also called a femorocele.
A femoral hernia will look like a lump close to the crotch or groin. The femoral canal, smaller veins, and nerves all are located just beneath the inguinal ligament in the crotch.
Femoral hernia can affect women more than men. Generally, femoral hernias are not normal and most of them don’t have any symptoms. Many hernias that influence the crotch area and one of them is inguinal hernias. Less than 3-4 percent of all hernias are femoral.
However, the femoral hernias condition prompts serious health issues if blood circulation to the small intestine is obstructed. This is known as a strangulated hernia, and it is a medical emergency that requires immediate hernia surgery.
What are the causes of femoral hernias?
The specific cause for femoral and different hernias are obscure often. An individual may be born with a debilitated spot of the femoral canal, or the region might become frail over time.
Stressing can add to the debilitating of the muscle walls. Variables that can prompt overstraining include:
- Chronic constipation and coughing
- Pregnancy
- Being obese
- Lifting heavyweight
- Problem with urination because of enlarged prostate
What are the symptoms of a femoral hernia?
At times, an individual might not be able to understand the symptoms of femoral hernia. People who have small or moderate-sized hernias don’t generally appear any symptoms not even a lump.
People who can see a hernia as a lump near the crotch area may experience some discomfort. The lump may get worse and can trigger pain when an individual lifts a heavy object, stand up and stress in any capacity.
A femoral hernia is generally found near the hip bone and subsequently may create hip pain.
A femoral hernia also causes severe symptoms such as an intestine blockage. It is a very rare condition, but a life-threatening condition known as a strangulated hernia. It is also be treated as a medical emergency and you contact emergency services immediately. Other symptoms of femoral hernia, include:
- severe pain in the stomach
- nausea and vomiting
- pain at the crotch area
How to diagnose a femoral hernia?
A femoral hernia can be diagnosed by your doctor during physical examination. If your hernia is large, it can be identified by your doctor. However, to diagnosis a femoral hernia your doctor may also prescribe an abdominal ultrasound and crotch area.
This process also clarifies suspicion of a femoral hernia with mild symptoms but no lump on physical examination. It is easy for your doctor to identify any deformity in the muscle wall as well as swollen tissue through abdominal ultrasound.
What is the treatment for femoral hernias?
Femoral hernias that are small and symptomless might not need explicit treatment. Your PCP may monitor your health condition to check whether there are any manifestations of progress. A femoral hernia that moderates to large require hernia surgery.
Your doctor may advise you on one of these two hernia surgeries for the treatment of femoral hernia based on your health condition and medical history. These are:
Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery: In this procedure, the surgeon makes 3-4 small incisions near the affected area to insert the laparoscope and other special surgical instruments. Laparoscopic surgery procedure involves less pain and less scars. Recovery time after hernia surgery in this procedure is very less and the patient can go within 24 hours after the procedure.
Open hernia surgery procedure, the surgeon makes one large incision to access the hernia. Recovery time in open hernia surgery is slightly longer than and the patient might need to stay in the hospital for a couple of days after the surgery.
In both surgeries, the surgeon will use general anesthesia and the surgeon will make an incision in your crotch area to get access to the hernia.
The intestine or other tissue distending from the femoral region is gotten back to its correct position. The surgeon will close the opening back together with sutures and may strengthen the wall of the canal with mesh.
Life After a Femoral Hernia Surgery
Femoral hernias are for the most part, not a life-threatening ailment. However, strangulation of the hernia can cause life-threatening conditions for a patient. This can be treated through immediate surgery.
For more information on Femoral Hernia – causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and consultation with Dr. Valeria Simone MD. Please contact our healthcare expert today for a quick appointment at +1 (817) 748-0200. You can also make an online appointment with us. Click Here
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