title: [Study of collagen and elastic fibers of connective tissue in patients with and without primary inguinal hernia].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Servicio y Departamento de Cirugía, Hospital Regional de Temuco, Unidad de Histología, Departamento de Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile. tellomor@surnet.cl
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bórquez
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garrido
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manterola
authors.forename: Patricio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schlageter
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Orellana
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ulloa
authors.forename: Juan Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Peña
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen