With successful surgery of an inguinal hernia, e.g., repairing the defect, there should be no ratable impairment, unless there is clearly recognizable nerve injury, or other complication - like infection. In both the Fifth and Sixth Editions, the rating of permanent impairment for hernias is provided in Section 6.6, Hernias (5th ed, 136-137; 6th ed, 121-123). There must be objective ratable findings at maximal medical improvement to have ratable impairment for hernias.
Inguinal hernias are very common, with a lifetime risk of 27% for men and 3% for women. Inguinal hernias may be indirect or direct. Indirect hernias protrude through the inguinal ring and is the failure of embryonic closure of the internal inguinal ring after the testicle passes through it. Direct hernias occur at a week point in the fascia of the abdominal wall. Clinically hernias are...
