Grynfelt hernia

Lumbar hernias are very uncommon conditions. Less than 300 cases have been reported in the literature. They result from defects in the posterolateral abdominal wall. The authors report their experience with four lumbar hernias managed at the "Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo" from 1973 to 1993. Age ranged from 54 to 63 years. Three were female, two had right hernias and two had left ones. All patients were treated surgically. Three were repaired by simple suture. The main complications were early recurrence (one case) and infections (one case). In one, a prosthetic mesh (polypropylene) was used to repair the defect, and the recovery was uneventful. Surgical treatment is always indicated in Grynfelt hernia. Approximation of the muscles by primary nonabsorbable suture, grafts or prosthesis are very adequate therapeutic options for lumbar hernias.