The use, value and safety of herniography

To assess the safety, sensitivity and specificity of out-patient herniography when used to diagnose hernias in the presence of a normal or equivocal physical examination.

This retrospective study reviewed the symptoms, clinical findings, radiological findings, surgical findings and clinical outcome of 112 patients referred for herniography over a 5-year period.

No significant complications were encountered. Thirty hernias were diagnosed. There was one false-positive and one false-negative examination giving herniography a sensitivity of 96.6% and a specificity of 98.4%.

Herniography is a sensitive, specific, safe and reliable investigation which should be available to and used by all surgeons who perform hernia repair operations.