The value of protruding extraperitoneal fat in predicting contralateral inguinal hernia

The high incidence of bilateral inguinal hernias in the pediatric population and the fact that most of these children undergo contralateral hernia repair months or years after the first intervention for a clinically unilateral inguinal hernia have resulted in numerous examinations aimed at finding a contralateral hernia. We have found that the presence of protruding extra-peritoneal fat on the operated side could be considered a predictor of bilaterality after observing this finding in a large number of children operated upon months or years before for a unilateral inguinal hernia.