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Transumbilical repair of umbilical hernia in children: The covert scar approach
Zachary S Pallister1, Lisa M Angotti2, Vivek K Patel1
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, Michael E DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin St., Houston, TX, USA.
Background:
Umbilical hernia repairs are one of the most commonly performed operations in children. The traditional repair involves an infraumbilical incision, which produces a visible scar. We report a novel technique of umbilical hernia repair through a transumbilical incision, which eliminates the scar by hiding it within the umbilicus.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective chart review of 134 patients who had undergone a transumbilical hernia repair at a single institution between 2008 and 2016. Satisfaction with cosmesis and the presence of complications were assessed through parental interviews during follow up visit or by telephone survey. These data were compared to a large volume retrospective analysis of the standard infraumbilical approach.
Results:
121 of the 134 patients were evaluated in the clinic or by telephone interview. The overall complication rate was 7.44%. Parents of 118 patients reported satisfaction with the cosmetic result (97.52%). In comparison to the largest study of pediatric infraumbilical repair, there was an improvement in subjective cosmesis without a significant increase in complications.
Conclusion:
Transumbilical hernia repair is a safe and cosmetically appealing technique for umbilical hernia repair in children.
Level Of Evidence:
Treatment study, level III.
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