Dr Harsh Shah
MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology)
Registered with Gujarat Medical Council, Reg. No. G-38738
Hernia Surgeon · Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad
In short
- A child's hernia repair ties off a small pouch left open from before birth. No mesh is used, because the muscle wall is healthy.
- A lump on the same side decades later is often a different hernia, from a weak adult wall, rather than the old one returning.
- Keyhole repair reaches the groin from inside, so the surgeon works through fresh tissue and avoids most of the old scar.
You were told it was fixed. You may only know it from a small scar and a family story. Now, years later, there is a lump in the same groin.
It is a common worry, and there is a clear reason it happens.
What was done when you were a child
Before birth, a small channel runs from the belly down into the groin. It usually closes. When it stays open, a child gets a hernia.
The repair in a child is simple. The open pouch is tied off at its root and removed. The muscle wall is healthy, so no mesh is needed.
Why a hernia can appear again
In adult life, a different kind of hernia can form. The muscle wall of the groin weakens with age, strain or a long cough.
This new hernia often sits right next to the old one. It is a fresh problem, not a failed repair.
Less often, part of the old pouch was left behind, and it has slowly filled again.
A child's hernia repair and an adult's
| Question | In a child | In an adult |
|---|---|---|
| Why the hernia forms | A pouch left open from birth | A weak spot in the wall |
| What the repair does | Ties off the pouch | Closes and supports the wall |
| Mesh | Not used | Usually used |
| Route | Small open cut | Keyhole or open |
| Old records needed | Not applicable | Helpful, not essential |
A groin lump on the side that was repaired in childhood? Tell us roughly when it was done, and we will take it from there.
How it is checked
The surgeon examines you standing and lying down, and feels the groin while you cough. Both sides are checked.
Old notes from a childhood operation are rarely kept, and that is fine. Tell the surgeon which side it was, and roughly how old you were.
Mention it if a testis was brought down at the same time. That changes what lies in the old scar.
How it is repaired now
An adult hernia is usually repaired with mesh, which supports the weak wall.
Keyhole repair is often a good choice here. It reaches the groin from inside, so the work is done through fresh tissue rather than the old scar.
Open repair is also suitable. The surgeon takes care with the cord and its vessels, which can be stuck in old scar tissue.
The other side
If you had a hernia on one side as a child, the other side is worth checking too. A hernia there can be repaired in the same keyhole operation.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hernia after a childhood repair a failed operation?
Usually not. It is often a new adult hernia from a weak wall, next to where the old one was.
I have no records of my childhood operation. Does that matter?
Not much. Tell the surgeon which side it was and roughly how old you were.
Will mesh be used this time?
Usually yes. An adult hernia comes from a weak wall, and mesh supports it.
Is keyhole repair suitable after an old groin scar?
Often yes. It reaches the groin from inside, through fresh tissue, avoiding most of the old scar.
Related pages
The main page on this site is hernia surgery in Ahmedabad. These cover the neighbouring questions.
Where to find us
Dr Harsh Shah, MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology)
Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad
Bring your reports. Second opinions are welcome.