Umbilical Hernias In Infants
Umbilical hernias (aka belly button hernias) are extremely common in infants and toddlers and occur in 10% – 30% of newborns.
Management of the hernia at time of discovery is dependent on the size of defect in the abdominal wall. Small hernias (< 2.0 cm) frequently close on their own and repair should be delayed until age 4.
Defects larger than 2 cm should be repaired at time of diagnosis, although this is typically scheduled on an elective basis as incarceration (i.e., tissue or bowel becoming trapped in the hernia) is rare.