[Traumatic perforation of the small intestine--a rare complication of inguinal hernia]

Groin hernias are among the most common surgical diseases. Traumatic rupture of the intestine is a rare complication compared to incarceration. We report on a 90-year old male with a left-sided hernia and a traumatic rupture of the small bowel. The treatment consisted of an emergency laparoscopy with simple closure of the perforation, repair of the hernia by herniorrhaphy and drainage of the abdomen.