title: Groin hernia: anatomical and surgical history.
abstract: The history of surgical repair of groin hernia is a lengthy record of assorted techniques in search of a cure for an ailment that comes in many sizes and shapes and that has plagued humanity for thousands of years. Although improvements are still being sought and found, for several decades surgeons have had the means to relieve most hernia sufferers. A remaining issue is whether the wide array of surgical procedures can or should be whittled down to a few "standard" operations that are safe, effective, and cost-efficient. The history of the anatomy of groin hernia shows how much there was to learn and how much remains to be learned. It also shows how important it is for the surgeon to know and understand both the anatomy of the area and the formation of groin hernia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: McClusky
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mirilas
authors.forename: Odysseas
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zoras
authors.forename: Panagiotis N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Skandalakis
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Skandalakis
mesh_terms: D000715:Anatomy / Q000266:history*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000266:history*; D006119:Groin / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans