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Medical Author:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Hernia Prognosis

• Risk of strangulation: In considering when to have a reducible hernia surgically repaired, it is important to know the risk of strangulation.



• The risk varies with the location and size of the hernia and the length of time it has been present.



• In general, hernias with large sac contents with a relatively small opening are more likely to become strangulated.



• Hernias that have been present for many years may become irreducible.



• Operative complications: Approximately 7% of people undergoing surgical hernia repair will have complications.



• These are short-term and usually treatable.



• The hernia that comes back after initial surgical repair can be repaired by the same or an alternate method.



• Complications include the following:



• recurrence (most common),



• urinary retention,



• wound infection,



• fluid build-up in scrotum (called hydrocele formation),



• scrotal hematoma (bruise), and



• testicular damage on the affected side (rare).