Femoral Hernia

Q: What symptoms suggest a femoral hernia might be an emergency?

Sudden severe groin pain, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain alongside a groin lump can indicate a strangulated femoral hernia, a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.

Q: Is femoral hernia surgery always urgent?

Not always, though femoral hernias have a higher likelihood of strangulation than other types, so surgery is generally recommended sooner rather than later.

Q: How soon can I return to work after femoral hernia repair?

Sedentary work can usually resume after about 7 days. Physically demanding jobs generally need two weeks off followed by two weeks of light duties.

What is a Femoral Hernia?

A femoral hernia occurs when tissue, such as part of the intestine, pushes through a weak spot in the muscle wall near the groin or inner thigh. Although femoral hernias are relatively rare, they can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Read more about hernia surgery here.

Hernia Surgery Sydney Surgery inguinal femoral direct indirect

Symptoms of a Femoral Hernia

Symptoms may vary depending on the size and severity of the hernia. Common signs include:

A lump or bulge in the groin or upper thigh area.
Discomfort or pain, especially when standing, lifting heavy objects, or straining.
Severe symptoms, such as sudden groin pain, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, may indicate a strangulated hernia, which is a medical emergency.

Treatment Options

Femoral hernias typically require surgical intervention to prevent complications. Treatment options include:

Surgical Repair: The hernia is repaired using stitches or synthetic mesh to strengthen the weakened area.
Emergency Surgery: Required for strangulated hernias to restore blood flow and prevent tissue damage.

When to seek medical attention?

If you notice a lump in your groin or experience severe symptoms like intense pain or vomiting, seek immediate medical attention. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent complications.

Expert Hernia Surgery in Sydney under Dr Golani

What are the options for Femoral Hernia repair Surgery?

There are two primary approaches to femoral hernia repair, open surgical repair and laparoscopic repair.

Open Repair: Involves making an incision near the hernia site to manually push the protruding tissue back into place and reinforce the weakened abdominal wall with sutures or mesh.
Laparoscopic Repair: Utilises small incisions through which a thin tube with a camera and surgical instruments is inserted. This minimally invasive approach offers advantages such as reduced postoperative pain, shorter recovery times, and decreased risk of complications like infection. This is referred to as Laparoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal (TEP) Repair and has become the gold standard for hernia surgery.

Laparoscopic Hernia Repair

Laparoscopic hernia repair is a minimally invasive surgical technique commonly used for the treatment of femoral hernias.
Dr. Golani specialises in this type of repair, which is known to provide the best surgical outcomes and post-operative results for patients.

Advantages of Laparoscopic Hernia Repair

Minimally Invasive: Laparoscopic Hernia repair is performed using small incisions, resulting in less tissue trauma, reduced postoperative pain, and faster recovery compared to traditional open surgery.
Lower Recurrence Rates: The use of mesh reinforcement in Laparoscopic Hernia repair helps to strengthen the weakened abdominal wall, lowering the risk of hernia recurrence.
Preservation of Peritoneal Integrity: Since the peritoneal cavity is not entered during Laparoscopic Hernia repair, there is a decreased risk of complications such as bowel injury or adhesions. These complications can particularly arise with other methods of repair like Open or Robotic Hernia repair.

Recovery After Laparoscopic Repair

Patients typically experience a quicker recovery following Laparoscopic Hernia repair compared to traditional open surgery. Following hernia surgery, patients are advised to:

Most people are fit to resume sedentary occupations after 7 days. If your job involves more physical demands, you need two weeks completely off work followed by two weeks of light duty.
Use over-the-counter pain relief medications as needed for discomfort.
Refrain from driving for at least five days post-surgery to ensure optimal recovery.
Avoid lifting weights exceeding 8kg for the first four weeks, gradually increasing to 15kg over the subsequent four weeks to prevent strain on the surgical site.

Important Points to Remember:

No driving for 5 days post-discharge from hospital
Your dressings are waterproof so you can shower as normal.
Do not sit/soak in a bath for 7 days.
Leave your dressings in place for 7 days and can be removed by the yourself
Bruising and intermittent pain may continue for a few days
Lifting weights may cause complications in your hernia repair. Limit lifting anything heavier than 8kgs for 4 weeks post-surgery. Additionally, you should not lift anything heavier than 15kgs for a further 4 weeks post-surgery
Use regular fibre supplement such a Metamucil will help avoid constipation
Walking unrestricted is allowed post discharge
Cycling/running/swimming is allowed 2 weeks post discharge
No special diet post-surgery is required to be followed.
Make an appointment to see Dr Golani 4 weeks post-surgery.

Improved Quality of Life

Laparoscopic Hernia repair offers an effective and minimally invasive approach to hernia repair, with favourable outcomes and reduced recovery times for eligible patients. Numerous studies, including this study (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9314304/), have demonstrated the success of laparoscopic techniques in hernia repair. Patients often experience significant improvements in their quality-of-life post-surgery, including reduced pain, enhanced mobility, and increased overall well-being.

Femoral Hernia - Frequently Asked Questions

How common are femoral hernias?

Femoral hernias are relatively rare compared to inguinal hernias, and are more common in women than men. Despite being less common, they carry a higher risk of complications such as strangulation, which is why prompt assessment is recommended if you notice a lump in the groin or upper thigh.

What symptoms suggest a femoral hernia might be an emergency?

Sudden, severe groin pain, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain alongside a groin lump can indicate a strangulated femoral hernia - a medical emergency where blood flow to the trapped tissue has been cut off. If you notice these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention rather than waiting for a scheduled appointment.

Is femoral hernia surgery always urgent?

Not always - many femoral hernias can be repaired electively once diagnosed. However, because femoral hernias have a higher likelihood of becoming strangulated than other hernia types, surgery is generally recommended sooner rather than later, and any sudden worsening of symptoms should be treated as a possible emergency.

How soon can I return to work after femoral hernia repair?

Most people can resume sedentary work after about 7 days. If your job is more physically demanding, plan for two weeks completely off work followed by a further two weeks of light duties before returning to full activity.

For general hernia questions - cost, surgical risk, mesh, robotic surgery, anaesthesia, and recovery for older patients - see the FAQ on our main Hernia Surgery page.

Your Consultation

Dr. Golani will provide further discussion regarding the specifics of your diagnosis during your consultation. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to select the hospital for your procedure and potentially set the date for your procedure.

The best surgical hospitals in Sydney are available for your surgery:

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Golani, please contact our team for a consultation with Dr Golani. We have appointments available at three convenient locations across Sydney: