Lumbar and para-iliac hernias: an alternative technique

Abstract

Lumbar and para-iliac hernias are rare and occur after removal of an iliac bone graft, nephrectomies, retroperitoneal aortic surgery, or after blunt trauma to the abdomen. The incidence of hernia after the removal of these grafts ranges from 0.5 to 10%. These hernias are a problem that surgeons will face, since bone grafts from the iliac crest are being used more routinely. The goal of this article was to report the technique to correct these complex hernias, using the technique of fixing the propylene mesh to the iliac bone and the result of this approach. In the period of 5 years, 165 patients were treated at the complex hernia service, 10 (6%) with hernia in the supra-iliac and lumbar region, managed with the technique of fixing the mesh to the iliac bone with correction of the failure. During the mean follow-up of 33 months (minimum of 2 and maximum of 48 months), there was no recurrence of the hernias.