Abdominal-wall postherpetic pseudohernia

Hernia. 2006 Aug;10(4):364-6; discussion 293. doi: 10.1007/s10029-006-0102-6. Epub 2006 Jun 13.

Abstract

Herpes zoster affects 10-20% of the general population. Motor complications sometimes occur in the segments corresponding to the involved sensory dermatomes causing abdominal wall pseudohernias. We present a case of a 57-year-old woman with herpes zoster characteristical rash following T11-T12 right dermatomes. Ten days after dermatologic manifestations onset, she had developed a protrusion at the abdominal wall on the right flank. The electroneuromyography confirmed axonal motor commitment, and morphological defects were ruled out by ultrasonography. The bulge totally disappeared after 4 months of observation. Postherpetic pseudohernia must be suspected when a patient develops signs and symptoms of motor dysfunction that coincide with or follow a herpes zoster eruption resulting in abdominal-wall herniation. A review of the literature concerning these extremely exceptional sequelae of herpes zoster is presented.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Hernia, Abdominal / diagnosis*
  • Herpes Zoster / complications*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged