ABSTRACT
Primary and acquired lumbar hernias are quite uncommon. There have been about 300 cases of primary hernias reported in the literature.1 Acquired lumbar hernias are the result of flank incisions for renal or other retroperitoneal operations, notably anterior lumbar interbody fusion. These acquired hernias can also be the result of division of the anterior branches of nerves that originate from T6 to T12. In these latter circumstances, there is no fascial defect with these denervation injuries, so they are not true hernias. These ‘pseudo-hernias’ are difficult to treat surgically. Rarely, they can also be seen with diabetic radiculopathy.
