A 17-year old boy who was in otherwise good health, suffered an excruciating pain in the groin area while trying to push a stalled automobile up a slight incline. He felt a painful bulge about halfway between the midline and the anterior superior iliac spine, which his inspection showed to course medially and then turn inferiorly into the scrotum. His scrotum was greatly enlarged especially on the right side. He shortly began to experience considerable abdominal pain. Some pain was felt deep to the bulge and other more diffuse discomfort was felt deep in the abdominal cavity. In addition he began to have abdominal cramps and became nauseated and lightheaded. He was able to get a ride to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. Following a brief examination, he was diagnosed with a direct inguinal hernia. This created a protruding sac of strangulated gut and he was immediately scheduled for surgery. The problem was corrected and he soon went home.
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