Groin hernia in children

Groin hernia is a common condition in children. However, in Denmark, no national guideline for treatment exists, and the evidence is sparse regarding optimal timing and preferred surgical technique. Almost all Danish children are treated with open surgery, even though the complication rate is similar for laparoscopy. Correct timing of repair of an asymptomatic reducible groin hernia is controversial, and the benefits of waiting versus the risk of incarceration should be considered. In this review, we summarise the evidence and give our proposal for a treatment flow chart.