L. R. Taveras Morales1, S. Huerta1,2 1University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center,Department Of Surgery,Dallas, TX, USA 2VA North Texas Health Care System,Department Of Surgery,Dallas, TX, USA
Introduction: Femoral hernias are much less common than inguinal hernias (2-4% of all groin hernias). An analysis of 3,980 femoral hernias showed that femoral hernias were more common in women compared to men (63% vs. 37%) and are more likely to present with a hernia complication compared to inguinal hernias (36% vs. 4.9%). The aim of the present study is to determine incidence and outcomes in patients with groin hernias at a veteran affairs hospital.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of a single surgeon’s practice over 12 years (2005-2017) at the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS). The database included 1153 consecutive groin hernias in 1062 patients. Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Fisher’s exact test were used to compare the continuous and categorical outcomes, respectively. Patient postoperative morbidity was explored in a multivariable logistic regression model. The model was constructed using a forward stepwise technique.
Results: Of 1153 inguinal hernias performed by the same surgeon over a 12-year period, 15 were femoral (1.3%). The hernia sac contained an inflamed appendix in one of them (0.09%). Patients with femoral hernias were older (64.7 ± 17.7 vs. 63.0 ± 5.9; p = 0.03), more likely to present with an incarcerated groin hernia, and would require a small bowel resection more frequently. Complications following a femoral hernia were higher compared to inguinal hernias (Table).
Conclusion: Femoral hernias are uncommon in veteran patients. A veteran patient presenting with an incarcerated groin hernia is likely to have a femoral hernia.
