Symptomatic forearm fascial hernia.

We retrospectively reviewed the records of seven patients with forearm fascial hernias that were painful with activity. Pain was due to muscle protrusion and hernia course against the proximal fascial edge of the defect. All but one of the symptomatic forearm fascial hernias were located in the midforearm. Theoretically, proximal hernias do not have sufficient muscle excursion to elicit pain. Likewise, distal fascial hernias do not overlie muscle bellies to protrude through the hernia. Based on this concept, each patient was treated by fasciotomy extending from the proximal and distal fascial edges. At least 1 year after surgery, six patients had improvement of their symptoms, three of whom had complete relief.