Digital imaging by parents: an aid to the diagnosis of inguinal hernia in infants and children

Introduction The aim of the study is to see the feasibility of utilisation of digital imaging by parents in the diagnosis of inguinal hernia in children, and reduce the rate of occasional negative groin exploration.

Methods During a two and a half year period, 155 inguinal hernias were diagnosed and operated on in our university teaching hospital. The diagnosis was based on the history and physical examinations of all patients. In 21 patients, the diagnosis was made based on the examination of history alone, as they did not demonstrate the hernia at presentation. In the last year, digital imaging by parents was utilised to aid in the diagnosis of difficult cases. There were ten cases, in addition to the history and physical examinations, that were confirmed by this method. All hernias were confirmed at exploration during surgery.

Results Out of 155 inguinal hernias, 21 (13.5 percent) were diagnosed by history alone, of which four (2.5 percent) had negative exploration, eight (5.1 percent) were positive for hernia, supported with digital imaging by parents' pictures, and nine (5.8 percent) were positive at exploration, without any additional means of diagnosis.

Conclusion History-taking and physical examinations are the mainstay of diagnosis of inguinal hernia in children. The capture of a digital image of the presenting complaint by the patients' parents, can be used as an additional aid in the diagnosis of difficult cases to demonstrate inguinal hernia, as demonstrated in a selected group of children.