Summary
Definition
An umbilical hernia is a defect of the anterior abdominal wall fascia that occurs when the umbilical ring fails to close. The defect allows protrusion of a peritoneal sac that is covered by skin and may contain intra-abdominal contents, such as omentum or bowel.
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Large umbilical hernia
Personal collection of Charles L. Snyder, MD; used with permission
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History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- present since birth
- bulge at the umbilicus
- change in size/tension during movement
- skin changes
- easily reducible hernia sac
- well-defined rim of fascia with central defect
- variable diameter of defect
- symptoms of small bowel obstruction
Risk factors
- low birth weight (<1500g)
- African/African-American ancestry
- Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS)
- trisomy 21, 18, 13
- congenital hypothyroidism
- mucopolysaccharidoses
Diagnostic investigations
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors VIEW ALL
Professor of Surgery
Chief, Section of Surgery
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Children's Mercy Hospital
Kansas City
MO
Disclosures
CLS declares that he has no competing interests.
Associate Professor of Surgery
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
American Family Children's Hospital
Madison
WI
Disclosures
CML declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers VIEW ALL
Professor and Vice Chairman
Pediatric Surgery
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas
TX
Disclosures
MAS declares that he has no competing interests.
Locum Consultant Surgeon
Glan Clwyd Hospital
Rhyl
UK
Disclosures
BSR declares that he has no competing interests.
Consultant Surgeon
Honorary Associate
Professor of Surgery
University Hospitals Coventry
UK
Disclosures
LSW declares that he has no competing interests.
Fellow in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Montefiore Medical Center at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, New York City
NY
Disclosures
EAA declares that he has no competing interests.
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