What are the alternatives?
In general, surgery is the treatment of first choice for testicular hernia. However, if the patient does not wish to undergo surgery or if this is not possible for other reasons (e.g. old fractures or high surgical risk), there are alternative options. For smaller hernias, the doctor may try to push the hernia sac back manually.
Another alternative to surgery describes the treatment of the fracture with a so-called hernia band. This is a kind of belt with a wooden fixation plate, which prevents the hernia sac from sliding further down. However, these alternative methods are not an option, especially in the case of large hernias, because the risk of incarceration of parts of the intestine is too great.
Prognosis
The prognosis of a testicular hernia is usually good. However, depending on the surgical method, it is possible that a hernia may occur again. The recurrence rate is 2-10%.
Strengthening the abdominal and back muscles through sport can help to prevent a testicular hernia. Even after the operation, the abdominal wall must not be subjected to excessive strain. The patient must take it easy for several months, i.e. he/she must not wear heavy clothes and must avoid certain sports.
Testicular hernia in the baby
Very often babies are affected by a testicular hernia and about 5% of male infants are born with a congenital scrotal hernia. Especially in premature babies, a testicular hernia often develops due to an incomplete closure of the abdominal wall. The connection between the abdominal cavity and the testicles remains intact in the fetus.
Due to this connection the testicles descend from the abdominal cavity into the scrotum during embryonic development. After this process, the duct normally closes. If it remains open, organs from the abdomen, very often the small intestine, can slip into this bulge and cause a testicular hernia.
Another cause of a suddenly occurring testicular hernia is testicular torsion. In this case the testicles wrap around their own stalk and a testicular hernia can occur. Very often babies and infants are affected by this torsion of the testicles, since in them the testicular sheath has not yet sufficiently grown together with the surrounding tissue.
Parents notice the testicular hernia by a swelling at the scrotum of the child, whereby the testicle can also turn blue.If parents notice abnormalities that indicate a testicular hernia, a pediatrician should be consulted as soon as possible. As in adults, there is a risk that parts of the intestine or internal organs may be pinched off by the hernial sac and thus no longer be supplied with sufficient blood and oxygen.
