A reducible hernia is a bulge or protrusion of the intestine through its containing wall that can be pushed back into place. This type of hernia differs from a nonreducible hernia, which cannot be gently manipulated into a sac in the groin or stomach. Although a reducible hernia responds to manual pressure, it requires surgery to close the opening in the hernia sac.
Reducible hernias may occur in three main parts of the body. An inguinal hernia is the most common type and occurs in the groin when part of the intestine bulges through a weakened muscle. When the intestine pushes through an area where the thigh meets the body, it is a femoral hernia. A common hernia in newborns is called an umbilical hernia, where part of the intestine protrudes from the navel.
A reducible hernia can only be repaired through surgery. The weakened area is strengthened with nylon mesh, but the hernia can return in rare cases. Some reducible hernias can be corrected by laparoscopic surgery, in which the procedure is performed through very small incisions, without the need for a large incision in the abdomen.
Many reducible hernias are caused by heavy lifting. Excess body weight can also cause weaknesses in the intestinal wall that can lead to a lump. Some femoral hernias stem from chronic constipation or repeated coughing episodes. When reducible hernias occur in children, it usually means that the abdominal wall did not close completely before birth. Often, an umbilical hernia will go away by the time the child is five years old.
Most hernias can be felt as a lump or node. There may be pain where the intestine has pushed through the wall. A doctor will ask a patient to cough during a physical exam to check for areas where the intestine is bulging. In children, a lump may not be visible unless the child is crying or straining to bulge.
Although a reducible hernia can be manipulated back into the abdominal cavity, it could worsen and become strangulated. This condition is serious and requires immediate surgery. If not treated promptly, a strangulated hernia can lead to gangrene because the blood supply is cut off. Strangulated hernias most often occur in the femoral area. It is best to surgically repair a reducible hernia before complications arise.
Other causes of abdominal wall arrest include blood pooling under the skin after an injury, swollen lymph nodes, a tumor, or undescended testicles. A doctor should be consulted whenever a lump is accompanied by pain, fever, or vomiting. If the appearance of a reducible hernia changes or enlarges, a doctor should evaluate the situation.