Femoral hernias appear in the groin – the small area of the lower abdomen on each side, just above the line separating the abdomen and the legs.
They are relatively uncommon (they account for 2% of all hernias and 6% of all groin hernias, the other 94% are inguinal). A femoral hernia is more likely to develop in women than in men (70% of femoral hernias occur in women, probably because of their wider pelvis making the femoral canal slightly larger) because of this they are sometimes referred to as female hernias and are often confused with inguinal hernias by both patients and doctors.
Almost half of all femoral hernias first come to light as emergencies.
Signs of a femoral hernia
You may see a small swelling very low down next to the groin skin crease or sometimes just below the crease so the swelling seems to be at the top of the thigh.
What would I feel?
Often very little, perhaps a bit of an ache. This is why they tend to be so ‘dangerous’ – there are often no symptoms until they strangulate. If strangulation occurs the lump becomes hard and tender.
A femoral hernia that gets stuck or ‘incarcerated’, on the way to strangulation, can cause severe local and abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. If a loop or knuckle of intestine is within the hernia sac it requires immediate, emergency surgery. The estimated time for bowel viability (survival) is about 8-12 hours.
Why is strangulation common?
The reason so many femoral hernias come to light as emergencies is probably that the femoral canal, through which the hernia appears, is narrow with most of its entrance (the femoral ring) rigid and unyielding.
What should I do?
Femoral hernias should be repaired early and not left until they become a problem. Not all doctors realise how important this is.
ALL femoral hernias in women of any age should be seen by an expert urgently as the risks attached to this kind of case while untreated are significant.
Hernia repair - Which operation is best?
The goal of surgery is to close off the femoral canal. Before mesh arrived on the scene this was done with stitches, stitching the front and back of the opening together. The problem is that there is not much ‘give’ here, trying to sew two rigid structures to each other. The result can be both painful and not very reliable.
Our preferred method is to place a soft mesh cone plug in the femoral canal. This sits in the femoral canal where it remains, stopping anything going through. This can be done with local anaesthesia through a short cosmetically-placed incision just above the groin crease.
How can The British Hernia Centre help?
The British Hernia Centre is the UK’s first and only dedicated specialist hernia centre, with over 30 years of experience. We are recognised experts in the diagnosis and treatment of complex and less common hernias, including femoral hernias, which require specialist knowledge due to their higher risk of complications.
Our unrivalled track record means we now perform more hernia operations, including incisional hernia and inguinal hernia operations, than any other surgical unit worldwide. Choosing a specialist centre ensures accurate diagnosis, appropriate surgical approach and the best possible outcomes.
Contact our team today for more information or to book a consultation.