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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Symptoms
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

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Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

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• Children
• Teenagers
• Patient Handouts

Summary

A hernia happens when part of an internal organ or tissue bulges through a weak area of muscle. Most hernias are in the abdomen.

There are several types of hernias, including:

• Inguinal, in the groin. This is the the most common type.
• Umbilical, around the belly button
• Incisional, through a scar
• Hiatal, a small opening in the diaphragm that allows the upper part of the stomach to move up into the chest.
• Congenital diaphragmatic, a birth defect that needs surgery

Hernias are common. They can affect men, women, and children. A combination of muscle weakness and straining, such as with heavy lifting, might contribute. Some people are born with weak abdominal muscles and may be more likely to get a hernia.

Treatment is usually surgery to repair the opening in the muscle wall. Untreated hernias can cause pain and health problems.

Start Here

• Hernias (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Symptoms

• Battling a Bulging Hernia: Don't Ignore Your Groin Pain (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Inguinal Hernia Repair Surgery (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons) Also in Spanish
• Surgical Mesh Used for Hernia Repair (Food and Drug Administration)
• Ventral Hernia Repair Surgery (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons)

Related Issues

• Sports Hernia (Athletic Pubalgia) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
• Treating and Preventing Sports Hernias (American Osteopathic Association)

Specifics

• Epigastric Hernias (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Inguinal Hernia (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
• Umbilical Hernias (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Abdominal wall defect: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia, Diaphragmatic (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia, Inguinal (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia, Umbilical (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: The clinical evolution of patients with idiopathic spinal cord herniation: a...
• Article: De Novo Formation of Idiopathic Spinal Cord Herniation.
• Article: Hernia Active Living Trial (HALT): an exercise intervention in people with...
• Hernia -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Find a SAGES Surgeon (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons)
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Children

• Diaphragmatic hernia repair - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Gastroschisis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Gastroschisis repair - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Inguinal Hernia in Infants and Children (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
• Omphalocele (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Omphalocele repair - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Treating Gastroschisis (Gastroschisis Silo) (Nemours Foundation)
• Treating Indirect Inguinal Hernia (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Umbilical hernia repair - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Hernias (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Diaphragmatic hernia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Femoral hernia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Femoral hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Gastroschisis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Gastroschisis repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Hernia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Inguinal hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Umbilical hernia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Umbilical hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Ventral hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish