Type Description
1 Indirect hernia with normal internal ring; typically seen in infants, children, and small adults
2 Indirect hernia in which the internal ring is enlarged without impingement on the floor of the inguinal canal; hernia does not extend to scrotum and inferior epigastric vessels are not displaced
3A Direct inguinal hernia; size is not taken into account
3B Indirect hernia that has enlarged enough to encroach on the posterior inguinal wall; indirect sliding or scrotal hernias are usually placed in this category because they are commonly associated with extension to direct space; these also include pantaloon hernias
3C Femoral hernia
4 Recurrent hernia; modifiers A, B, C, and D are sometimes added to type 4, corresponding to direct, indirect, femoral, and combined