Femoral hernia physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: M. Khurram Afzal, MD [2]

Patients with femoral hernia usually appear normal. Physical examination of patients with femoral hernia is usually remarkable for swelling or lump below the inguinal ligament. It is a difficult diagnosis and maybe impossible to differentiate from inguinal hernia. If incarceration is present, the swelling or lump maybe tender.

• The presence of lump or swelling below the inguinal ligament on physical examination is highly suggestive of femoral hernia.^[1][2]

• Patients with femoral hernia usually appear normal.

• Vital signs of patients with femoral hernia are usually normal.
• If incarceration is present, the following vital signs maybe present indicating sepsis:^[1]
  • Fever
  • Tachycardia with regular pulse
  • Low blood pressure

• Skin examination of patients with femoral hernia is usually normal.

• HEENT examination of patients with femoral hernia is usually normal.

• Neck examination of patients with femoral hernia is usually normal.

• Pulmonary examination of patients with femoral hernia is usually normal.

• Cardiovascular examination of patients with femoral hernia is usually normal.

• Abdominal examination of patients with femoral hernia is usually normal.
• If incarceration is present bowel sounds maybe absent.^[1][3]

• Back examination of patients with femoral hernia is usually normal.

• Swelling or lump may be present below the inguinal ligament.^[1][2]
• If incarceration is present the palpable swelling below the inguinal ligament may be tender.^[1][3]

• Neuromuscular examination of patients with femoral hernia is usually normal.

• Examination of extremities of patients with femoral hernia is usually normal.

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