BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of incarceration in children with congenital inguinal hernias and to ascertain if incarceration could have been prevented. MATERIAL/METHODS: Records of 1582 children who underwent inguinal herniorrhaphy between 1993 and 2000 were analysed regarding the time and circumstances of hernia incarceration. RESULTS: Incarcerated hernia developed in 153 cases (9.7%) developed, of whom 81 (52.9%) were known to have had prior hernia incarceration and 81 (52.9%) were under one year of age. Manual reduction of hernia was successful in 130 cases (85%), and 99 of them (76.2%) underwent hernia repair during the same stay. Emergency surgery was necessary in a total of 36 children (23.5%), 23 with the first and 13 with the second incarceration episode. Complications occurred in 16 children with incarcerated hernia (10.4%), including intestinal necrosis, omentum and appendix infarction, infarction of the testis, torsion of the ovary, recurrent hernia and wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: The first incarceration of known inguinal hernia could have been avoided in more than half of our patients and the second in one-fourth after successful manual reduction.

Keywords: Hernia, Inguinal - prevention & control