A Case of Femoral Hernia in a Child

Abstract

A 4-year old boy was seen for evaluation of a recurrent right inguinal hernia. On physical examination, the bulge was lateral and inferior to the external inguinal ring, and was easily reducible. The diagnosis of femoral hernia was made. He underwent a right groin exploration and revealed a right femoral hernia. The hernia sac was ligated by transfixing sutrue at the neck of the sac, and was resected. The hernia porta was repaired with inguinal ligament sutured to Cooper's ligament. He made an uneventful postoperative recovery, with no recurrence in 12 months. Femoral hernia in children is rare. Twenty-eight children of this disease have been reported in Japan. The etiology of femoral hernia is still debated. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult. The methods of repair for femoral hernias are varied, but there is no uniform procedure.