Umbilical hernia in Bulawayo: some observations from a hospital based study

We present a retrospective study of 40 consecutive patients admitted with umbilical herniae to Mpilo Central Hospital between January 1990 and December 1993. The majority of the patients 95 pc (38/40) were children and only 5 pc (2/40) were adults. The study included 18 males and 22 females giving a M:F ratio of 1:1,2. In children the age range was from 1 month to 13 years with 63 pc (24/38) occurring in the zero to five year age group. The commonest indication for admission was obstruction of the umbilical hernia in 37.5 pc (15/40) of cases. Other indications included: large umbilical hernia 30 pc (12/40), recurrent discomfort and peri-umbilical pain 20 pc (8/40), incidental finding in patients admitted for some other problem 7.5 pc (3/40), one case of recurrent hernia and one case of accidental injury. Spontaneous reduction of obstructed umbilical herniae occurred in 86 pc (13/15) of cases and operative reduction was carried out in 14 pc (2/15) of cases. There was no mortality recorded in this series. It is clear from our findings in this study that obstruction of the umbilical hernia in children in our practice although relatively uncommon, is a well recognised surgical emergency. On the basis of our findings we would recommend that prophylactic umbilical hernia repair should be performed in all girls over two years of age and in all children over four years of age.