A case of right femoral hernia with incarceration of the appendix

Abstract

We report a case of femoral hernia with incarceration of the vermiform appendix diagnosed using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
An 83-year-old woman had a right groin swelling. Physical examination revealed an elastic hardened mass in the right femoral region. She had a slightly elevated CRP on admission. MR imaging showed a right femoral hernia with incarceration of the appendix ; emergency surgery was performed. The appendix was strangulated in the femoral ring at a point 2 cm from the tip of the appendix ; from this point ischemic changes were noted. Therefore, an appendectomy and a hernioplasty using McVay's procedure were performed. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged from hospital on the 10th hospital day. We discuss the 18 cases (including this one) reported in the Japanese medical literature.