INTRODUCTION: Stoma-site incisional hernia is a common complication. Besides decreasing affected patients' quality of life, it may lead to emergency surgery due to incarceration. If stoma sites lead to an incisional hernia analogous to other abdominal incisions, considerable underreporting may be present in the literature.

METHODS: This was a single-centre, retrospective cohort study comprising consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal resection for rectal carcinoma with temporary diverting stoma and subsequent stoma reversal. CTs were reviewed to identify stoma-site incisional hernia, and potential confounders for development of a hernia were assessed.

RESULTS: A total of 91 patients underwent stoma reversal and subsequent CT. In all, 72 of the 91 included patients had a transverse colostomy, among whom 19 (26%) developed a hernia. Among the remaining 19 patients treated with an ileostomy, four (21%) developed stoma-site incisional hernia. The mean time from stoma reversal to follow-up CT was 47.6 months (range: 28.5-66.7 months). No significant associations between stoma-site hernia and the included potential risk factors were observed.

CONCLUSIONS: 25% developed reversal-site incisional hernia. We were unable to find any predictors for development of stoma reversal-site hernia. If hernias occur as frequently as this study shows, investigation of potential ways to decrease their occurrence is warranted.

FUNDING: none.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency (R. no. 2012-58-0004).