A Ventral Hernia: How is it Treated?
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. People can sustain many different types of abdominal injuries in an accident. These include internal organ contusions, muscle strains, and even hernias. For those who may not know, a hernia is a term used to describe the protrusion of an internal organ through a muscular wall that typically encloses it. There are lots of different risk factors that may place someone at risk of developing a hernia. According to information that has been published by Virtual Medical Centre (myVMC):
- Any form of weakness of the abdominal muscles can increase the risk of a hernia developing.
- Examples of possible causes include blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma (such as in an auto accident), heavy lifting, obesity, and previous surgery.
- Nerve damage can also lead to significant muscle weakness.
- Those who have a family history of hernia development are also at an increased risk of a hernia developing.
There are different locations for a hernia to develop. Examples include:
- The groin
- The diaphragm
- The esophagus
- The abdomen
When someone develops a hernia of their abdomen, this is typically called a ventral hernia. It is essential to understand the various treatment options that are available because some of these hernias can be surgical emergencies.
Types of Hernias
When someone has a ventral hernia, there are several different ways that it can be classified. Examples include:
Reducible Hernia: A reducible hernia is one that can be pushed back behind the muscle wall that typically contains it. When someone has a ventral hernia, they can usually feel a bulge. If they can push the bulge back in, this is a reducible hernia. This hernia should be repaired as quickly and as safely as possible. However, it is not emergent.
Incarcerated Hernia: An incarcerated hernia is a hernia that cannot be pushed back behind the muscle wall. What has happened is that the muscle has pinched the hernia together, preventing it from being pushed back in. This is an emergency, and someone who notices this should go to the ER right away.
Strangulated Hernia: A strangulated hernia is a surgical emergency. In this case, the muscle wall has completely choked off a hernia and has cut off its blood supply. The tissue inside of a hernia is starting to die. This will be exquisitely painful and requires emergent surgery to save the tissue that is dying inside.
How is a Hernia Repaired?
If someone has been diagnosed with a ventral hernia, the only way to treat it is through surgery. While a reducible hernia may be able to wait for optimal surgical conditions, an incarcerated or strangulated hernia cannot wait. In an operating room, a surgeon will make an incision in the abdomen. After this, the organs will be pulled back through the muscle wall. The tissue will be checked to make sure it is still viable. If it is not, this may also have the be removed. Then, the muscle wall will be closed with stitches. The surgeon will make sure that the abdominal wall is intact before closing the skin on top.
Watch YouTube Video: Ventral Hernia Repair. This animated video explains how the correct procedure to repair a ventral hernia.
What is the Prognosis of a Ventral Hernia?
After a hernia has been repaired, the prognosis will depend heavily on the individual’s overall health. Someone who is obese or who has diabetes faces a high risk of this hernia returning. This is because the extra fat tissue stretches the abdomen and diabetes can make it hard for the tissue to heal properly. Someone who has sustained this hernia in a traumatic accident should meet with a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. The accident should be reviewed because you might be entitled to financial compensation.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. Chronic medical problems after accidents are serious problems. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in an accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 at (800) 404-5400 for free friendly advice.
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Image Source: This diagram was located first on Wikimedia Commons and has been printed here under the CC BY SA License, version 4.0.
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