Children’s Inguinal Hernia: To Remove or Not To Remove?

28. Oktober 2025

2 Min. Lesezeit

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Parents do not always know how serious inguinal hernia in children is because it does not cause pain. However, parents should look out for signs of it in children, as it can have serious consequences.

Wichtigste Erkenntnisse

Parents do not always know how serious inguinal hernia in children is because it does not cause pain.
Umbilical or inguinal?
What it looks like

Für wen das ist

Für alle, die Pädiatrie über kinder, surgery erkunden.

Warum es wichtig ist

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Artikelautor

Dr. Serge

Chirurg

Umbilical or inguinal?

A groin hernia is a malformation and occurs most often in the first year of life. Typically, there are unilateral hernias on the right side in the groin area. Today, many people confuse umbilical hernia and inguinal hernia in children. Umbilical hernias occur as a result of the enlarged umbilical ring, and they become smaller relative to the body as the child grows. Over time, an umbilical hernia will resolve itself and “disappear.”

However, inguinal hernias do not resolve on their own. An inguinal hernia usually occurs in boys during the omission of the testicles into the scrotum. This process involves a peritoneal outgrowth that paves the way for the testicle to form into the scrotum. The peritoneal bulge fuses in the first months of life, but if it does not, the unhealed bulge becomes a hernia sac, into which the organs of the abdomen move.

What it looks like

Parents find a round-shaped bulge in the inguinal area, which appears or increases with an intra-abdominal pressure due to coughing, screaming, crying, and hiccups. Touching an inguinal hernia does not cause pain. The bulge is smooth, soft, and easily repositioned with the fingers. As it moves, it often makes noise since there are loops of the intestine in the hernia sac. After it has been moved back, the hernia will not return to its position for a while.

What are the dangers?

The most serious complication is impingement of the hernial contents. An increase in intra-abdominal pressure due to a child’s strong cry, exertion, or flatulence leads to a hernia sac with contents outside the inguinal canal, after which the external inguinal ring takes on its former size and compresses the contents. In parts of the internal organs trapped in the sac, blood circulation is disrupted, the hernia site becomes dense and swollen, and the child will begin to have severe pain, nausea, and vomiting. It is important to notice the impingement in time and consult a doctor. This will avoid the death of the pinched organ, perforation, and peritonitis.

Treatment overview

Today, the only treatment for inguinal hernia is surgical — specifically, complete excision of the hernia sac and suturing of the hernia gate. Laparoscopic excision is used here more often than the usual method of surgery. The operation lasts about 30 minutes and does not require rehabilitation.

Hernia impingement can occur at any time, so you should not postpone treatment in the hope that it will pass.

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