UWorld Surgery Practice Test

An incisional hernia occurs at the site of a previous surgical incision due to the natural weakness in the abdominal wall created by the incision. After surgery, the tissue may not heal perfectly or may experience increased stress, leading to the protrusion of internal organs through the abdominal wall at this weakened site.

This type of hernia commonly develops many months or even years after the initial surgery, especially in cases where there is added pressure on the abdomen from factors like obesity, heavy lifting, or chronic coughing. The distinction of an incisional hernia lies in its association with a surgical incision, differentiating it from other types of hernias that occur in different anatomical locations without the influence of previous surgical intervention.