Surgical Care for the Workers' Compensation Community
When a workplace incident results in a hernia injury, you need a surgeon who is expert at hernia repair and who understands workers' compensation. Surgical care for workers' compensation patients is a specialty of Keith Zacher, MD, FACS. He has performed thousands of hernia repairs utilizing both laparoscopic and conventional open techniques.
Dr. Zacher takes pride in providing compassionate care with successful outcomes for his hernia patients who have suffered a workplace injury.
Have you suffered a hernia due to a workplace incident?
Hernias are caused when pressure pushes an organ or tissue through an opening or weak spot in your muscle or its surrounding tissue. Workers can suffer hernias when lifting and carrying heavy objects, or from repeated movements which cause damage to the body. If you feel a sharp pain or a popping sensation in your abdomen or groin when lifting a heavy object, you may have developed a hernia. You may also see or feel a lump in the affected area that disappears and reappears intermittently.
Types of hernia caused by heavy lifting
The most common types of hernia resulting from heavy lifting are:
- Inguinal hernia
This is the most common type of hernia. It is more common in men than women. In the inguinal hernia, the intestine or the bladder pokes through the abdominal wall into the front of the groin area where the leg joins the body. - Femoral hernia
Femoral hernias are more common in women, and overall occur much less commonly than inguinal hernias. In the femoral hernia, the intestine pushes into the canal that carries the femoral artery into the inner thigh area of the groin. - Epigastric hernia
An epigastric hernia happens when fatty tissue protrudes through a weakness in the abdominal wall somewhere between the belly button and the sternum.
Incarcerated and strangulated hernias
Often, a hernia bulge disappears when you lie down or push against it. When a hernia is stuck in the "out" position, it is referred to as an incarcerated hernia, because the protruding tissue is trapped (incarcerated) in the muscle wall. An incarcerated hernia can lead to a strangulated hernia, which is an emergency because it cuts off the blood supply to your intestine.
If you believe you may have an incarcerated hernia and experience any of these signs or symptoms, seek immediate medical attention:
- Nausea, vomiting or both
- Fever
- Rapid heart rate
- Sudden pain that quickly intensifies
- A hernia bulge that turns red, purple or dark
Hernia Diagnosis
To diagnose a hernia, Dr. Zacher conducts a physical examination and asks questions about your hernia symptoms. Additional imaging scans may be performed.
Hernia Treatment
A hernia will not heal without surgery. Hernias can be repaired with either open surgery or minimally invasive (laparoscopic) techniques. Dr. Zacher conducts a thorough examination to determine whether a laparoscopic or open surgical repair is right for you.
"Open" hernia repair:
Dr. Zacher makes an incision and pushes the bulging tissue or organ back into place. He then repairs and reinforces the muscle wall with a synthetic mesh or screen to provide additional support.
Laparoscopic hernia repair:
Dr. Zacher makes 3 - 4 small incisions and inserts a small hollow tube holding a tiny video camera (laparoscope) into the abdomen so that he can view the hernia while repairing it with synthetic mesh. Laparoscopic repair typically results in a quicker return to normal activity.
As a surgeon who has treated many hernias caused by workplace injuries, Dr. Keith Zacher understands workers' compensation. He and his staff will ensure that comprehensive reports are delivered to all parties involved. Dr. Zacher is committed to helping each and every one of his hernia patients return to the quality of life they are used to enjoying.