Early prediction of late incisional hernias

Abstract

Incisional (ventral) hernias may not be discovered until many months after operation','. This has led to the belief that aponeuroses that have healed edge to edge may gradually part and permit the development of a hernia'. An alternative hypothesis is that a gap forms between the edges of the divided aponeurosis soon after operation, and that the weak fibrous tissue filling that gap gradually stretches until a hernia becomes detectable. The present study was carried out to test the validity of this hypothesis.