Background: Flank and lumbar hernias (FLH) are challenging to repair. This study aimed to establish a reproducible management strategy and analyze elective flank and lumbar repair (FLHR) outcomes from a single institution.
Methods: A prospective analysis using a hernia-specific database was performed examining patients undergoing open FLHR between 2004 and 2021. Variables included patient demographics and operative characteristics.
Results: Of 142 patients, 106 presented with flank hernias, and 36 with lumbar hernias. Patients, primarily ASA Class 2 or 3, exhibited a mean age of 57.0 ± 13.4 years and BMI of 30.2 ± 5.7 kg/m2. Repairs predominantly utilized synthetic mesh in the preperitoneal space (95.1 %). After 29.9 ± 13.1 months follow-up, wound infections occurred in 8.3 %; hernia recurrence was 3.5 %. At 6 months postoperatively, 21.2 % of patients reported chronic pain with two-thirds of these individuals having preoperative pain.
Conclusions: Open preperitoneal FLHR provides a durable repair with low complication and hernia recurrence rates over 2.5 years of follow-up.
Keywords: Abdominal wall reconstruction; Flank hernia; Hernia; Hernia repair; Lateral abdominal wall hernia; Lumbar hernia.
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