Poorly understood and often miscategorized congenital umbilical cord hernia: an alternative repair method.

PURPOSE: Umbilical cord hernia is poorly understood and often miscategorized as "omphalocele minor". Careless clamping of the cord leads to iatrogenic gut injury in the situation of umbilical cord hernia. This study aimed to determine the characteristics and outcomes of umbilical cord hernias. We also highlight an alternative repair method for umbilical cord hernias.

METHODS: We recorded 15 cases of umbilical cord hernias over 10 years. The patients' data were retrospectively reviewed, and preoperative preparation of the newborn, gestational age, birth weight, other associated malformations, surgical technique used, enteral nutrition, and length of hospitalization were recorded.

RESULTS: This study included 15 neonates with umbilical cord hernias. The mean gestational age at the time of referral was 38.2 ± 2.1 <weeks. Mean birth weight was 3094.3 ± 636.8 g. Four infants had associated malformations, including agenesis of the right kidney, left kidney with a duplex system, coarctation of the aorta, ventricular septal defect, meningocele, club foot, and choanal atresia. Surgical exploration was carried out in all of the neonates and they underwent corrective surgery with good outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: In an umbilical cord hernia, the body folds develop normally and form the umbilical ring. The double purse-string technique is easy to apply and produces satisfactory cosmetic results in neonates with umbilical cord hernias.