Femoral Hernia

Femoral Hernia

Femoral hernias usually occur in thin older women, although they can occur in anyone.
This type of hernia occur where the large blood vessels to and from the leg exit and enter the abdominal cavity. It occurs on the inside of the vessels in the groin crease at the top of the leg. Due to limited space in this area the hernia is often turned up towards the head and is often confused with the other types of groin hernia (inguinal).
These hernias are very tight and often contain bowel. They must always be fixed promptly as there is a very high rate of strangulated small intestine with these hernias which is life threatening. Repair can be performed with keyhole surgery or via small 2-3 cm incision in the groin crease.