Lumbar hernia treated with lightweight partially absorbable mesh: report of a case

Superior lumbar hernia, also known as Grynfeltt-Lesshaft hernia, is an uncommon abdominal wall defect. We report a case of superior lumbar hernia, which was successfully treated with a lightweight partially absorbable mesh. A 73-year-old man visited our department with complaints of lumbar pain and a feeling of pressure associated with a right lumbar mass. A CT scan of the abdomen demonstrated a defect in the aponeurosis of the transversus abdominis muscle and a protrusion of the small intestine through the defect. The diagnosis of a right superior lumbar hernia was made. The lumbar hernia was surgically treated with a lightweight large-pore polypropylene mesh containing an absorbable component consisting of poliglecaprone (ULTRAPRO Plug). The patient had no evidence of recurrence after 4 years of follow-up without any sense of discomfort. This is the first case report of a lumbar hernia treated with a lightweight partially absorbable mesh. This partially absorbable mesh can be considered to be suitable for the treatment of a lumbar hernia.