[Study of collagen and elastic fibers of connective tissue in patients with and without primary inguinal hernia].
BACKGROUND
There are few studies looking for collagen matrix defects in patients with inguinal bernia.


OBJECTIVE
To study the skin connective tissue in patients with and without inguinal bernia.


METHODS
Skin from the surgical wound was obtained from 23 patients with and 23 patients without inguinal bernia. The samples were processed for conventional light microscopy. Collagen fibers were stained with Van Giesson and elastic fibers with Weigert stain.


RESULTS
Patients without hernia had compact collagen tracts homogeneously distributed towards the deep dermis. In contrast, patients with hernia had zones in the dermis with thinner and disaggregated collagen tracts. Connective tissue had a lax aspect in these patients. Collagen fiber density was 52% lower in patients with hernia, compared to subjects without hernia. No differences in elastic fiber density or distribution was observed between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with inguinal bernia have alterations in skin collagen fiber quality and density.
Bórquez
Pablo
P
Servicio y Departamento de Cirugía, Hospital Regional de Temuco, Unidad de Histología, Departamento de Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile. tellomor@surnet.cl
Garrido
Luis
L
Manterola
Carlos
C
Peña
Patricio
P
Schlageter
Carol
C
Orellana
Juan José
JJ
Ulloa
Hugo
H
Peña
Juan Luis
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D003094:Collagen