Femoral hernias in children. An infrequent problem.

Femoral hernias in children are uncommon and many surgeons have had little exposure to their clinical manifestations. A ten-year survey of our experience with groin hernias in children showed only six children with this condition, which represents 0.12% of this entire population. Definite preoperative diagnosis was made in only two patients, while in the other patients this condition was suspected during herniorrhaphy. Preoperative diagnosis is possible if the bulge appears in a location inferior and lateral to that of the commonly occurring indirect hernia. Any child with early recurrence of a groin swelling after what seems to be an adequate inguinal herniorrhaphy should be suspected of having a femoral hernia.