Abstract
There are two anatomically weak spaces in the lumbar area, namely the superior and inferior lumbar triangle. Lumbar hernias are rare and may occur in these triangles. We report on a case of a superior lumbar hernia that was difficult to differentiate from lipoma. A 74-year-old woman was seen at our hospital because of a soft mass at the right lower lumbar area. The mass was about 6cm in diameter and its consistency was elastic and soft. CT and MRI offered a diagnosis of a superior lumbar hernia. At operation, the hernia orifice was found to be about 2cm in diameter. A mesh plug was inserted into the orifice and an onlay patch was fixed to the superior lumbar triangle. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged very much improved on the 6th hospital day. There has been no evidence of recurrence after the operation.
