[Female inguinal herniain Niger : diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of female inguinal hernia (ovarian hernia).

This was a prospective and descriptive study lasting 6 years (1^st January 2014 to 31^st December 2019). It included all girls aged 0 to 15 years old with ovarian hernia, received in the pediatric surgery department of the Hôpital National AmirouBoubacar Diallo in Niamey. The variables studied were the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients, personal and family history, and those related to diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects.

With 23 recorded cases, ovarian hernia had a hospital frequency of 8.7%. The average age of the patients was 5.6 years (range: 4 months and 11 years). The average duration of evolution before diagnosis was 8 months (range: 0 days and 36 months). The hernia was mainly located on the right side: 14 cases (60.85%). The hernial sac during the operation was most often empty: 11 cases (47.85%). It contained at least the ovary for 10 patients (43.5%). There were 2 cases of strangulated hernia (8.6%). All the patients benefited from a herniotomy. The average operating time was 26.7 days (range: 0 days and 146 days). No deaths and no postoperative complications were recorded after a 3-month follow-up.

Ovarian hernia in this study is a rare condition often encountered in young girls. In spite of a late treatment, the therapeutic results were satisfactory.