Spontaneous rupture of infantile umbilical hernia: report of three cases
Ahmed, A.; Ahmed, M.; Nmadu, P.T.
Annals of Tropical Paediatrics 18(3): 239-241
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0272-4936 PMID: 9924562 Document Number: 282667
Umbilical hernia is common in African children and accounts for 8.7% of pediatric external abdominal hernias in the Department of Surgery at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. The condition develops from failure of the fresh umbilical wound or weak scar to withstand the stress of raised intra-abdominal pressure associated with coughing, vomiting, or defecation in early life. Umbilical hernia is remarkably free from complications, with the most common being incarceration. 3 Nigerian infants who presented to the hospital between 1983 and 1996 with spontaneous rupture of an umbilical hernia are described. In 2 cases, hernias developed during the neonatal period following umbilical sepsis. Rupture occurred at ages 2 and 3 months, respectively, and was probably precipitated by raised intra-abdominal pressure resulting from excessive crying. The third child had a large, ulcerated umbilical hernia which ruptured at age 10 months and was precipitated by damage to the overlying skin. All cases were treated successfully.