Femoral Hernias

Femoral Hernias are much more common in women, but can occur in men. These hernias appear just below the groin crease and are usually the result of pregnancy and childbirth. A weakness in the lower groin allows an intestinal sac to drop into the femoral canal, a space near the femoral vein that carries blood from the leg. These hernias are more prone to develop incarceration or strangulation as an early complication than are inguinal hernias. Therefore, early repair once these hernias are diagnosed is very strongly advised before such complications occur.

Femoral hernias are more common in women, usually elderly and frail (although they can happen in children). They typically present as a groin lump. They may or may not be associated with pain. Often, they present with a varying degree of complication ranging from irreducibility through intestinal obstruction to frank gangrene of contained bowel. The incidence of strangulation in femoral hernias is high. A femoral hernia has often been found to be the cause of unexplained small bowel obstruction.