Sonographic anatomy of surgically acquired abdominal pseudohernia—A guide to the documentation of anterolateral integument denervation with ultrasound

Abstract

Incisional hernia is a common clinical diagnosis when a patient presents with a post‐surgical abdominal wall bulge. Herniation is a complication that can result from a disruption to the anterior abdominal wall, however other differentials need to be considered to account for a localized prominence of the abdominal integument. One such differential is a pseudohernia; a bulging of an intact abdominal integument without protrusion of abdominal contents. This can occur as a direct consequence of operative trauma and subsequent denervation injury to abdominal wall musculature. Although surgical techniques have been refined to reduce the potential of segmental neuropathy, atrophy of the abdominal wall can be a long term sequalae that clinically mimics that of a hernia. Such an outcome can result from surgical approaches with a particular location and orientation leaving little option to avoid damage to nerves inherent to the area. Damage to these nerves can not only result in abdominal wall laxity but also to the development of further complications that can affect a patient's quality of life. The aim of this article is to increase sonographer awareness of postsurgical pseudohernia of the anterolateral abdominal wall as a differential to incisional hernia, and as such provide guidance on how to demonstrate this anomaly. Considering that pseudohernia and incisional hernia have differing management techniques, the sonographer can play a pivotal role in influencing patient management, negating the need for surgical hernia repair and advocate for a conservative management pathway.