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Hernias
Hernias are protrusions of a tissue, or an organ, outside its normal position. When these occur in the groin some abdominal contents, usually a part of the small intestine, bulges directly through the muscle of the abdominal wall and is therefore called a direct hernia. These may be small, only appear after coughing, and easily be returned by gentle pressure - a process called reducing the hernia - or large and impossible to reduce, when they're called incarcerated. More seriously they may become blocked, with pain, nausea and vomiting, requiring emergency medical attention. The discomfort caused by hernias may be reduced by keeping them in place using a truss, but surgical repair is likely to be required to prevent complications.
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