Listen to Story India's Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra is likely to undergo surgery for his long-standing groin injury. The athlete, who won a silver medal in the men's javelin final, has been suffering from a hernia that has caused pain in the groin. He has now travelled to Germany for further evaluation so that it doesn't hamper his performance in the upcoming tournaments.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HERNIA Hernia is a protrusion of a normal organ, usually the intestines, from its normal place to another location. The most prevalent type of hernia is inguinal hernia, in which the abdominal tissue like the fat or a portion of the intestines pushes through an opening in the lower abdominal wall, which separates the abdomen and groin. An inguinal hernia occurs when a portion of the intestine or fatty tissue pushes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal wall (called the inguinal canal).
An inguinal canal is present on each side and in males transmits the connections of the testes from the abdomen to the scrotum. Inguinal hernia is more common in males (affects 20% of males during their lifetime) than females (2%). In 20% of patients, the hernia may occur on both sides simultaneously, according to Dr Ajay Kumar Kriplani, Minimal Access & Bariatric Surgery, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram.
SYMPTOMS OF INGUINAL HERNIA It is the most common type of hernia and usually affects males. "The patient usually complains of a bulge in the groin region which increases on coughing and decreases on lying down. It is usually painless but mild discomfort can be there," said Dr Mayank Madan, Director, Minimal Access and Bariatric Surgery, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram.
In children, it is present right from birth, known as congenital. In later ages, it develops in people who have increased abdominal pressures like in asthmatics, weight lifters, wrestlers , and people with chronic constipation. For the older population, an inguinal hernia can happen due to the weakening of muscles.
Dr Kriplani said that sometimes obesity can also cause hernia due to excess body weight putting additional pressure on the abdominal wall. "It is rarely caused by injury or previous surgery," added Dr Madan. The experts said that inguinal hernia, though painless, can get complicated occasionally (intestinal obstruction or strangulation), which can be life-threatening.
"It is a pure surgical problem and one should not let an emergency happen. Surgery is a simple day care procedure where a mesh is placed within muscle planes as a reinforcing barrier. It is usually done by keyhole laparoscopic or robotic technique," explained Dr Madan.
According to Dr Kriplani, using a truss or supportive garment to manage an inguinal hernia is outdated in modern medicine and is not recommended. It is only considered for patients who are not fit for surgery due to anaesthesia risks. After the surgery, the individual is discharged within 24 hours and normally resumes all routine activities within 3 to 4 days.
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