Overview

Incarcerated hernias happen when abdominal muscles trap (incarcerate) a hernia. It may cause pain in your lower abdomen. — An incarcerated hernia means the hernia doesn’t move back into your abdomen on its own or when you push on the hernia.

What is an incarcerated hernia?

An incarcerated hernia happens when muscles in your abdomen trap (incarcerate) a hernia. Unlike most hernias, an incarcerated hernia doesn’t move back into your abdomen on its own or when you push on it.

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Any type of hernia can get stuck in your abdominal muscles. But inguinal (groin) and femoral (upper thigh) hernias are more likely to become incarcerated.

Incarcerated hernias can be sudden and severe (acute). Or you may have it for a while and not notice symptoms right away (chronic).

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of an incarcerated hernia?

An incarcerated hernia creates a noticeable lump or bulge in your abdomen or groin that doesn’t go away. You may develop other symptoms like:

Distended abdomen
Nausea or vomiting
Severe pain in your lower abdomen or groin
Redness of the skin overlying the hernia
Swelling at the site of the incarcerated hernia that’s tender to the touch

An incarcerated hernia may keep you from pooping. That can happen if pressure on the trapped hernia blocks your intestine (obstructed bowel) so poop can’t move through your intestine.

What causes an incarcerated hernia?

You may develop an incarcerated hernia if there’s an unusual amount of pressure on your abdominal muscles. The extra pressure may cause your abdominal muscles to press harder on the hernia so that it gets stuck. You may put extra pressure on your abdominal muscles if you lift heavy objects or have a chronic cough. Other issues that may lead to an incarcerated hernia include:

Constipation so you need to strain to poop
Fluid pooling in the hernia that makes it grow larger, so your abdominal muscles trap it

You can also develop an incarcerated hernia if there’s scar tissue in your abdominal muscles from a previous hernia surgery. In that case, you have a new hernia that’s pushed through the surgery site. Scar tissue from the previous surgery may keep the new hernia from moving back into your abdomen.

What are the complications of an incarcerated hernia?

A strangulated hernia is the most serious complication. A strangulated hernia cuts off blood flow to the tissue, organ or intestine in the hernia. This condition is a medical emergency.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is an incarcerated hernia diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will do a physical examination. They’ll ask about your symptoms, like whether you’re able to poop. They may do a computed tomography (CT) scan to look at the hernia’s contents. They may also press on the lump or bulge to move the hernia. If it doesn’t move, your provider considers the hernia to be an incarcerated hernia.

Management and Treatment

How is an incarcerated hernia treated?

An incarcerated hernia is a surgical emergency and requires hernia repair surgery.

How long does it take to recover?

Your recovery time depends on the extent of surgery. In general, you should be able to resume your usual activities within a few days. Your surgeon may set limits on how much weight you should lift. But everyone’s situation is different. Ask your surgeon what you can expect and what you can do to support your recovery.

Care at Cleveland Clinic

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Living With

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Talk to your healthcare provider if you think you may have a hernia. They’ll examine the bump or lump that the hernia can cause to confirm you have an incarcerated hernia.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider the following questions:

Do you know why I have an incarcerated hernia?
What treatments do you recommend?
Will I need surgery?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

There’s a lump or bulge in your lower abdomen or groin. It may not hurt. But it doesn’t go away. That kind of change in your body is something you should discuss with a healthcare provider. Tests may show you have an incarcerated hernia. The hernia won’t go away without treatment. And without treatment, an incarcerated hernia may cause more serious medical issues. Talking to a provider is the first step toward taking care of a worrisome lump or bulge.