Is there any treatment for an Incisional hernia other than surgery?
An abdominal corset maybe used to keep the hernia reduced during the daytime. For smaller hernia a truss maybe used. However this is only a temporary solution. A truss is a belt with a large pad on it that applies pressure to the site of the hernia with the aim of keeping the bulge from popping out. Overall, a truss is not a good idea even though it may at times work. The truss does nothing to repair the hernia. It just minimizes symptoms by preventing significant herniation through the defect in the abdominal wall. As a result, the hernia will continue to get larger. In addition, there will be scar tissue formed that provides no strength to the area. Both of these factors, enlargement of the hernia and scarring, make the surgical repair of the hernia more difficult and later recurrence more likely. Therefore, a truss should only be used as a short-term measure until surgery can be performed.
