Herniography: a useful diagnostic tool for occult groin hernia in adult patients with obscure groin pain

ABSTRACT

20 adult patients [mean age of 39.8 years] with established groin pain of duration of 8.9 months and normal physical examination underwent herniography. All patients had a history of medical evaluation on several occasions by other physicians. The pain was described as an ache in most patients and was unilateral in 17. Apart from 2 cases of brief syncope, no serious herniographic complications were recorded in the present series. In the presence of bilateral hernial sacs, the larger sac was found at the painful side. 18 patients [90%] were found to have 26 occult groin hernias. 4 were direct and 6 were bilateral. Exploration of the painful side confirmed the herniographic findings in all patients. Three months follow-up after operation revealed resolution of the patients' symptoms. The technique of herniography and the normal herniogram were described