An incisional hernia is a protrusion of tissue that forms at the site of a healing surgical scar, that follows a prior surgery and incision. This type of hernia accounts for 15-20 percent of all abdominal hernias
The characteristic “bulge” of an incisional hernia can be identied when you are standing upright or are performing physical activity, such as heavy lifting. Because incisional hernias typically occur at the front of the abdomen, they are considered a type of ventral hernia. In most occurrences, only the abdominal lining protrudes, making incisional hernias less severe than other types. However, incisional hernias do not heal on their own and require surgical treatment to repair.
People who had abdominal surgery are at-risk for developing incisional hernias. They are especially susceptible three to six months following the procedure, when the tissues are healing from the incision. Strenuous activity, substantial weight gain, or pregnancy can cause excessive stress on the healing abdominal tissue and should be avoided during this healing window.
The two most frequent symptoms of incisional hernia are uneasiness and bulge. If the hernia contains intestines or omentum, (the tissue covering the intestine), it may also cause nausea, vomiting (especially after eating), and pain. Often, the bulge created by these types of hernia are large and therefore are cosmetically undesirable. Additionally, because they are exacerbated by use of the abdominal muscles, coughing, bending, and any physical activity cause more symptoms. Weight loss reduces the chance of a recurrence after repair, but weight loss is dicult because of the exercise limitations these hernias cause.
For incisional hernia, there are two methods: open surgery method and laparoscopy procedure, both of which can be done with stitches only, or stitches with a mesh screen. There are many different options for mesh, some of which are completely permanent, and some that integrate with the body over time, with little or no artificial material remaining. I use a shared-decision making process, (in which I give the pros/cons of all possible types of repair), with patients in order to allow them to be a decision-maker in the surgery. In general, open procedures have slightly more pain and possibly a longer recovery, but may be the best option in select patients to prevent recurrence. On the other hand, laparoscopic repair uses several small incisions and has a shorter recovery but may not be ideal for larger hernias
If the surgical is done laparoscopically, patients may leave the hospital on the same day. Open repairs may have a 1-2 day hospitalization, based upon the complexity of repair.
A pilonidal cyst is found on the tailbone and can become a problem if it becomes larger or gets infected. Once a cyst becomes infected, despite antibiotic therapy, it often becomes a source of recurrent chronic pain and infections. Pilonidal cysts, also called pilonidal sinus, sacrococcygeal stula, and pilonidal abscess, are diagnosed in both men and women of all age groups, and have a high incidence in individuals who are seated for a long period of time throughout the day.
Ingrown hairs and excessive sitting hours are two major causes of pilonidal cysts. These cysts can take months to grow, because of the injury to the tailbone or coccyx area. Besides, some medical researchers have also found that such complications occur due to hereditary pilonidal dimple.
During World War II, more than 75,000 military personnel were diagnosed with the cyst because they developed excessive pressure on the coccyx by continued riding in bumpy jeeps.
The signs of pilonidal cyst conditions comprise of:
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