Incisional hernia after McBurney incision:: Retrospective case-control study of risk factors and surgical treatment

Background Few reports have dealt with incisional hernias originating at a McBurney incision after appendectomy. The purpose of the present study was to identify risk factors for development of incisional hernia at a McBurney incision, and to describe our experience with the treatment of this kind of hernia. Patients and methods We reviewed 4,862 files of patients older than 15 years of age operated on for acute appendicitis. Some 4,523 (93%) of that group were operated on through a McBurney incision, and 34 (0.7%) of them developed incisional hernia. To identify risk factors for development of incisional hernia we used binary logistic regression analysis. Results The following risk factors were identified: female gender (p = 0.011), diabetes (p < 0.0001), peritonitis, abscess or phlegmon as the cause of the first operation (p = 0.009), wound infection (p = 0.034), seroma (p = 0.023), the use of catgut to suture the aponeurosis (p < 0.0001), and interrupted suture to the aponeurotic layer (p = 0.046). Twenty-two hernias were repaired with Mayo-herniorrhaphy and 12 with a subaponeurotic polypropylene prosthesis. Recurrences developed in 3 patients, none in hernias repaired with prosthesis. Conclusions The risk of incisional hernia after a McBurney incision for acute appendicitis was very low; we recommend the repair of this uncommon incisional hernia with current standard tension-free prosthetic techniques.