The Role of Pelvic Bone Anatomy in the Pathogenesis of Inguinal Hernia
H.V. Harissis, G.K. GeorgiouOriginal article, no. 6, 2014
Background: a small number of reports have suggested that inpatients with inguinal hernia, certain pelvic anatomical traitsprevail, which are characterized by the low position of thegroin, resulting in a marked verticality of the inguinal fold.Based on this notion we investigated a possible correlation ofthis anatomical characteristic with hernia development, byapplying a simple clinical research protocol.Methods: two groups were formed. A study group including 25adult patients with a history of inguinal hernia or aclinically proven inguinal hernia and a control group of 10individuals of the same age and sex distribution with the studygroup, but with no history of inguinal hernia. On anteroposteriorpelvic plain x-rays, we measured Radoievitch’s anglewhich is formed by the interspinal line and the line passingfrom the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle.Mean values of Radoievitch’s angle were then comparedbetween the two groups.Results: patients with inguinal hernia had greater valuesconcerning Radoievitch’s angle in a statistically significantmanner when compared to controls (p=0.004).Conclusions: individual variability in the configuration of theadult bony pelvis is an important factor in the development of inguinal hernia. Pelvimetry could affect the choice of herniarepair and radiological pelvimetry could be included in thepreoperative planning of hernia repair.
