Femoral Hernia Repair

This webpage will give you information about a femoral hernia repair. If you have any questions, you should ask your GP or other relevant health professional.

What is a femoral hernia?

Weak spots can develop in the layer of muscle in the abdominal wall, resulting in the contents of the abdomen pushing through. This produces a lump called a hernia (see figure 1).

Hernia - bowel pushing through a weakness in the muscle wall of the abdomen

A femoral hernia happens at the hole in the wall of the abdomen where the femoral artery and vein pass from the abdomen into the leg. A hernia can be dangerous because the intestines or other structures within the abdomen can get trapped and have their blood supply cut off (strangulated hernia).

Figure 1 - Hernia - bowel pushing through a weakness in the muscle wall of the abdomen.

What are the benefits of surgery?

You should no longer have the hernia. Surgery should prevent you from having any serious complications that a hernia can cause.

Are there any alternatives to surgery?

The hernia will not go away without an operation.

What does the operation involve?

A variety of anaesthetic techniques are possible. The operation usually takes about three-quarters of an hour.

Your surgeon will make a cut in your groin and remove the ‘hernial sac’. They will then narrow the hole (femoral canal), through which the contents of the abdomen passed, using stitches or a synthetic mesh.

What complications can happen?

1 General complications

Pain
Bleeding
Infection in the surgical site (wound)
Unsightly scarring
Blood clots

2 Specific complications

Developing a lump under the wound
Difficulty passing urine
Injury or narrowing of the femoral vein
Injury to structures within the hernia
Temporary weakness of the leg
Injury to nerves

How soon will I recover?

You should be able to go home the same day.

You should increase how much you walk around over the first few days after your operation.

You should be able to return to work after three to four weeks depending on the extent of surgery and your type of work.

Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, you should ask a member of the healthcare team or your GP for advice.

Occasionally the hernia comes back.

Summary

A femoral hernia is a common condition caused by a weakness in the abdominal wall, near the femoral canal. If left untreated, a femoral hernia can occasionally cause serious complications.

Acknowledgements

Author: Mr Simon Parsons DM FRCS (Gen. Surg.)

Illustrations: Hannah Ravenscroft RM

This document is intended for information purposes only and should not replace advice that your relevant health professional would give you.

The operation and treatment information on this website is produced by EIDO Healthcare Ltd and is licensed by Ramsay Health Care UK. The intellectual property rights to the information belong exclusively to EIDO Healthcare Limited.

You may not copy, print out, download or otherwise reproduce any of the information other than for your personal, non-commercial use.

The information should not replace advice that your relevant health professional would give you.