truss
Last reviewed 01/2018
A truss may be used to 'control' certain types of hernia. This may be indicated when surgery is inappropriate or unacceptable to the patient.
They work by applying pressure to a hernia to prevent it from protruding, e.g. padded webbing attached to a belt compresses the inguinal canal from front to back, so preventing protrusion of an inguinal hernia. They can be safely used so long as the hernia is reducible, and can be kept reduced and free of symptoms.
Trusses are less suited for direct inguinal hernias since in time, they soon bulge around the truss. For these and for very large indirect hernias which cannot be reduced, a "bag truss" is used.
A truss must be fitted by an expert. It must be properly maintained. A poorly-fitted truss or infrequent assessment of the hernia can be dangerous. The truss may be applying pressure to an incarcerated hernia with a risk of strangulation.