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"What Exactly Is A Femoral Hernia??" Femoral Hernias are caused by the protrusion of the intestine or the surrounding tissues, through the apart of the abdomen wall known as the “femoral canal.” The femoral canal is a naturally weak ligament , and the intestine can push its way through the femoral canal through simple activities that put stress on the abdomen, such as: - Standing
- Coughing
- Large Bowel
- Movements/Constipation
- Obesity
- Abnormal stretching or straining, possibly from lifting heavy objects or rapid, awkward movements .
The femoral canal is more likely to weaken as an individual ages, so the elderly are the most at risk. However, women who have had several children through natural childbirth can suffer from a weaker femoral canal due to the natural abdomen stress, and smokers are also at risk thanks to so called “smoker’s cough.” .
Femoral hernias can be painful, but even those that experience no symptoms need to have their femoral hernias treated, as they can cause serious medical problems if not quickly dealt with. Diagnosing Femoral Hernias Most often a diagnosis is made by noticing the lump in the groin . Pain or constipation in the general groin area may be a sign of a femoral hernia, but more often than not the olive sized lump is visible and will be looked at by a doctor. For obese patients or those for whom a diagnosis is difficult, CT scans or MRIS may be useful to help ensure a correct diagnosis. Abdominal x-rays are useful as well. None of these methods are very common however, as diagnosis is usually limited to a physical examination. Femoral hernias often go misdiagnosed in children, as these hernias are less common, though research is currently being conducted about a better way to diagnose the signs of femoral hernias in young people .
There are inguinal hernias that occur in the same general area, but it is very difficult to distinguish the two without an operation . Inguinal hernias are far less likely to result in strangulation, so there are very important differences between the two types. Nevertheless, both of these hernia types require surgery to be removed , so physicians often will suggest surgical removal.
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