Sports Hernia Blog | SPORTSHERNIA.COM

Umbilical Hernia Repair Techniques

Published February 23, 2021 By Kara Rozendaal

I often get asked whether the Shouldice or the Bassini is the best method for repair of umbilical hernias. This represents a misunderstanding about hernia repairs. The Shouldice and the Bassini are methods to repair inguinal hernias but have no place in the repair of umbilical hernias. For umbilical hernia repair, there are two basic methods. The first is a pure tissue repair and the second is the use of mesh.

Pure tissue repair uses sutures to close the hole. This can be a primary closure or a layered closure such as pants over vest. The pure tissue repair has the best results for small hernias (less than 3 to 5cm) and in patients with a normal BMI.

Unfortunately, for large umbilical hernias mesh has to be used to get the defect closed. The mesh can be placed to cover the hernia or placed on the peritoneal side of the…

Harpers Magazine: In The Net

Published February 18, 2021 By William Brown, MD

Trudy Lieberman recently published an article about the economics of the use of mesh in Harpers’ magazine. (I contributed to the article). She outlines the huge amount of money involved and the fact the mesh companies have paid hospitals and doctors to use mesh for hernia repairs despite the well know and documented problems of pain, shrinkage, sexual dysfunction, and nerve damage. I wish it was not true, but money does influence decision-making even if the patient suffers.

Download Article Here

Orthopedic Surgeon Recommendation

Published February 18, 2021 By William Brown, MD

Dr. Amir Jamali is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with offices in Walnut Creek and Sacramento.
He has specialized training in Sports Medicine. He will take good care of you. I highly recommend him.

https://www.jointpreservationinstitute.com/

Dr. Amir Jamali
100 N. Wiget Lane Suite 200
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925) 322-2908

I Feel Great – Getting Back to Backpacking

Published February 15, 2021 By William Brown, MD

I want to thank Dr. Brown for solving my most bothering issue of 2020. I got a hernia in December 2018 during three days winter backpacking trip at Tahoe mountains. I won’t tell you how much fun it was – probably the most suffering experience of my life. Carrying the backpack up and down the mountains through the deep snow in cold weather with the constant pain in your stomach – was unforgettable! Earlier, I also felt the pain after windsurfing practices, but I didn’t even understand what it was, so I didn’t do anything about it.

But coming back from Tahoe, I’ve decided to address the issue. I went to PAMF here in Fremont, CA. At first, they’ve ignored me, dismissing the hernia diagnosis altogether. After it was confirmed by ultrasound, the PAMF surgeon still has never get back to me. I let it go at that time because…

Feeling Super

Published February 14, 2021 By William Brown, MD

Hi Dr. Brown.

It has been nearly 2 months since my surgery and I am feeling super. I am so grateful to you for repairing my hernia!

Stay Healthy,
MS

Thank You for Your Support

Published January 29, 2021 By William Brown, MD

December 18, 2020

Dear Dr. Brown,

I wanted to write quickly to thank you once again for all of the kindness and support you have given me over the past 18 months. When I was suffering last year from the immense pain that the mesh on my right side was causing as well as the untreated hernia on my left, you took the time to call me and discuss how you could help. That phone call gave me some hope at a time when I had almost none.

When I flew to California in March to have my initial consult, I could tell right away that you were an extremely skilled surgeon. You identified very quickly not only the hernia only the left, but also an untreated abdominal hernia on my right (which multiple surgeons in Seattle had not identified). Your supportive bed-side manner also gave me confidence that you…