A study of clinical profile and management of Umbilical hernia in tertiary care unit: An observational study
Department of General Surgery, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur.
Research Article
International Journal of Frontiers in Medicine and Surgery Research, 2026, 08(01), 027-036.
Article DOI: 10.53294/ijfmsr.2026.8.1.0022
Publication history:
Received on 17 May 2026; revised on 24 June 2026; accepted on 26 June 2026
Abstract:
Background: Umbilical hernia is a common abdominal wall defect in adults and is frequently associated with obesity, multiparity, and conditions causing increased intra-abdominal pressure. Despite its prevalence, optimal management strategies continue to be debated. This study evaluated the clinical profile, predisposing factors, surgical management, and postoperative outcomes of adult patients with umbilical hernia treated at a tertiary care centre.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery of a tertiary care teaching hospital over 18 months. Sixty adult patients diagnosed with umbilical hernia and undergoing surgical treatment were enrolled using consecutive sampling. Demographic characteristics, risk factors, clinical presentation, operative details, postoperative complications, hospital stay, and recurrence were recorded using a standardized proforma. Data were analysed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics were expressed as frequencies, percentages, and mean ± standard deviation.
Results: The majority of patients were aged 41–50 years (26.7%), with a female predominance (60%). Obesity (41.7%) and multiparity (33.3%) were the most common predisposing factors. Most hernias were reducible (66.7%), and 50% had defect sizes ranging from 2–4 cm. Open repair was performed in 75% of patients, while mesh reinforcement was used in 80%. Postoperative recovery was uneventful in 73.3% of cases. Seroma formation (10%), surgical site infection (8.3%), hematoma (5%), and mesh infection (3.3%) were the most common complications. Most patients were discharged within 3–6 days. Recurrence was observed in only 5% of patients during follow-up.
Conclusion: Adult umbilical hernia predominantly affects middle-aged women and is strongly associated with obesity and multiparity. Open mesh repair remains the preferred surgical approach and is associated with low complication and recurrence rates, supporting its safety and effectiveness in tertiary care settings.
Keywords:
Umbilical Hernia; Mesh Repair; Obesity; Surgical Outcomes; Recurrence; Adult Hernia
Full text article in PDF:
Copyright information:
Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0