lumbar hernia

Etiology

• congenital
• primary-acquired, risk factors
  • older age
  • obesity, underweight
  • rapid weight loss
  • chronic disease
  • muscular atrophy
  • chronic bronchitis
  • wound infection,
  • postoperative sepsis
  • strenuous physical activity
• secondary-acquired
  • surgery
  • trauma
    • iliac crest fracture
  • hepatic abscess
  • osteomyelitis of pelvic bones or ribs
  • lumbodorsal fasciitis
  • infected retroperitoneal hematoma

Epidemiology

• rare
• most common 50-70 years of age
• male predominance

Pathology

• form of posterior abdominal wall hernia
• occur through defects in the lumbar muscles or the posterior fascia, below the 12th rib & above the iliac crest

Clinical manifestations

• posterolateral mass
• back pain, bowel obstruction (if contents contain bowel)
• urinary obstruction (if contents are kidney/ureter)

More general terms

• abdominal wall hernia (ventral hernia)