Hernia - A Collagen Disease?

Summary: Background: The reparation of abdominal wall hernias is one of the most frequently performed operations in surgery worldwide. Besides primary hernias, recurrent and incisional hernias are of particular interest in abdominal surgery. Knowledge about the pathogenesis and successful treatment of abdominal wall hernias are of major socioeconomic importance. Various risk factors for hernia formation have been proposed in the past. In recent years, turnover of connective tissue, particularly collagen, in hernia patients has been the focus of research. Methods: This article reviews the findings concerning collagen metabolism and expression in patients with (recurrent) inguinal and incisional hernia. Results: A disorder of the collagen metabolism is supposed to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of primary or recurrent inguinal and incisional hernias. Conclusions: Further research on collagen metabolism in these patients should be transposed into optimized surgical repair procedures.