Inguinal Hernia

An inguinal hernia ( /ˈɪŋɡwɨnəl ˈhɜrniə/) is a protrusion of abdominal-cavity contents through the inguinal canal. They are very common (lifetime risk 27% for men, 3% for women). Though their repair is one of the most frequently performed surgical operations, elective surgery is no longer recommended in minimally symptomatic cases, due to the low risk of incarceration (<0.2% per year) and the significant risk (10-12%) of post herniorraphy pain syndrome.