Lumbar hernia after breast reconstruction

Ultrasonography for Rare Lumbar Hernia Diagnosis: Multimodal Imaging Insights

This case report highlights the role of ultrasonography in diagnosing a rare right lumbar hernia in a 57-year-old male presenting with a painless lumbar mass. Ultrasound revealed a hypoechoic mass with disrupted fascial continuity. CT imaging was used for confirmation, showing herniated omental fat. The patient underwent successful surgical repair with mesh implantation and experienced an uneventful recovery. This case underscores the diagnostic value of ultrasonography as a non-invasive, real-time imaging modality in identifying lumbar hernias and differentiating them from other soft tissue masses, complemented by CT for comprehensive evaluation. Early diagnosis ensured effective management and favorable outcomes for the patient.

Breast-Related Herniation: A Call for Multidisciplinary Awareness and a Proposal for a Classification

Breast-related herniation (BRH) is a vague term for many clinicians. The absence of a universal nomenclature and the different nature of the herniation process involved, being true or false, contribute to this vagueness. BRH includes a spectrum of disorders ranging from a few congenital breast disorders to commoner herniation processes related to acquired breast diseases. We aim to raise multidisciplinary awareness about BRH by reviewing the related literature and reviewing our experience with BRH. We will also propose a classification for BRH. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for any herniation disorders that are related to the breast in any clinical or pathological aspect. The literature review revealed 12 various groups of BRHs that we could classify into two anatomical categories: pectoral (mammary) BRH, in which the herniations occur at the pectoral site of the chest wall, and extra-pectoral BRH, in which the herniations occur at an extra mammary site but are related to breast pathologies. Pectoral BRH was further divided into clinicopathological subcategories, including congenital BRH, pulmonary BRH complicating breast cancer and breast infections, factitious BRH, and iatrogenic BRH. Extra-pectoral BRH was further divided into clinicopathological subcategories, including abdominal wall hernias following autologous breast reconstruction (ABR) and herniated siliconomas. Our study group included 19 patients with BRHs, among which congenital BRHs and pulmonary BRHs were the most common. Congenital BRHs are rare and are of main interest to plastic surgeons. However, abdominal wall hernias following ABR, pulmonary BRH, and factitious BRHs are relatively common complications of breast cancer treatment. This calls for a multidisciplinary approach to ameliorate the morbidity of BRHs. Further studies are needed to refine our proposed classification.

Primary upper lumbar hernia repaired by transabdominal preperitoneal approach technique using a self-expanding mesh with a memory-recoil ring, report of a case

BACKGROUND

Upper lumber hernia is a rare entity which can cause obstruction and strangulation. Laparoscopic technique has been considered effective for such hernia repairs; however, there is no report of use of the self-expanding mesh.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 77-year-old woman visited to our hospital complaining of a bulge of about 5 cm in the left lumbar dorsal region while standing. Abdominal CT and MRI scans showed a fascial defect in the left lumbar abdominal wall and confirmed the presence of a hernia, in which retroperitoneal fatty tissue and the descending colon protruded. Transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) was performed and the operative findings revealed the hernia orifice, 3 × 2.5 cm in diameter, between two intercostal nerves. To avoid nerve injury or entrapment, the number of mesh fixation was desirable minimum; therefore, a self-expanding mesh with a memory-recoil ring was used. The mesh, 9.5 × 13 cm in diameter, was placed and tacked to the abdominal wall at two points, 1 cm ventral and dorsal to the hernia orifice. The postoperative course was uneventful and no pain or recurrence was observed with follow-up of 6 months.

CONCLUSION

We herein present a case of upper lumber hernia successfully repaired by TAPP with a self-expanding mesh.

Bilateral Lumbar Hernias Following Spine Surgery: A Case Report and Laparoscopic Transabdominal Repair

Lumbar hernias are rare abdominal wall defects. Fewer than 400 cases have been reported in the literature and account for 2% of all abdominal wall hernias. Lumbar hernias are divided into Grynfelt-Lesshaft or Petit hernias. The former are hernia defects through the superior lumbar triangle, while the latter are defects of the inferior lumbar triangle. Primary lumbar hernias are further subdivided into congenital or acquired hernias and can further be classified as either primary or secondary. Secondary hernias occur after previous flank surgeries, iatrogenic muscular disruption, infection, or trauma. We review a rare presentation of metachronous symptomatic bilateral secondary acquired lumbar hernia following spine surgery. A successful laparoscopic transabdominal lumbar hernia repair with extraperitoneal mesh placement was performed, with resolution of the hernia symptoms. An extensive literature review regarding lumbar hernia and different types of repairs was performed.