Occupational rehabilitation following open mesh surgical repair of an inguinal hernia.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this case report is to describe an occupational rehabilitation program for a person whose work-related inguinal hernia was surgically repaired.


METHODS
A 35-year-old baggage service attendant acquired an inguinal hernia while lifting at work. Postoperatively, the patient had discomfort in the groin, weakness of the lower extremities and trunk, limited ability to walk, and a decreased ability to work due to impaired lifting tolerance.


RESULTS
Following postoperative rehabilitation, the patient was able to return to full-time, full-duty work.


CONCLUSIONS
This case report describes occupational rehabilitation as a method to treat patients with work-related inguinal hernias following surgical repair.
Pesanelli
Kelly E
KE
Occupational Medicine Department, New England Baptist Hospital, 125 Parker Hill Ave, Boston, MA 02120, USA. kpesanel@caregroup.harvard.edu
Cigna
Joseph A
JA
Basu
Shantanu G
SG
Morin
Andrew R
AR
D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D014481:United States