Enhanced relief of low back pain following surgical repair of a ventral hernia: A case report

The effectiveness of core muscle strengthening in treating Low Back Pain (LBP) is well-established. The laxity or defect of the important portion of core muscle groups, transverse abdominis muscle, as seen in ventral hernia could be a contributing factor for core weakness and instability and thereafter results in LBP. The contribution of ventral hernia to LBP is scantily documented. Ventral hernias can be easily missed if a thorough physical exam is not performed. A 50-year-old male patient presented to the clinic with a 10- year history of LBP; a physical exam revealed a previously undiscovered ventral hernia. He reported a reduction in LBP and improvement in back support after his ventral hernia repair surgery. This case report highlights the importance of a thorough assessment and treatment of the underlying connection between ventral hernia and chronic LBP.