Fascia lata autograft for recurrent inguinal hernia repair in a geriatric pet rabbit (

Introduction: Inguinal hernias are uncommon but significant pathologies in rabbits, particularly in geriatric patients, in whom comorbidities, tissue fragility, and anesthetic risk complicate surgical management. Methods: An 8-year-old, 850 g male Netherland Dwarf rabbit presented with a right inguinal hernia, reducible on palpation. Computed tomography and ultrasonography confirmed herniation of the cecum and urinary bladder. Initial surgical management under general anesthesia included orchidectomy, cystopexy, and primary closure of the inguinal canal using atraumatic monofilament polydioxanone (PDO) 4-0 suture. One month postoperatively, recurrence of the hernia involving the cecum was observed. A second reconstructive procedure was therefore performed using a fascia lata autograft collected from the patient's right pelvic limb. After repositioning the herniated organs, the graft was sutured with atraumatic monofilament PDO 4-0. Results: Clinical and ultrasonographic evaluation at 10 days postoperatively demonstrated continuity of the reconstructed abdominal wall and absence of recurrent herniation, while computed tomography at three months and ultrasonography at six months showed maintenance of the repair without recurrence. Conclusion: To the authors' knowledge, this represents the first reported use of a fascia lata autograft for recurrent inguinal hernia repair in a pet rabbit. This case suggests that fascia lata autografting may represent a feasible reconstructive option in selected rabbits when primary suture closure is considered insufficient. Further studies are required to evaluate long-term outcomes and recurrence rates in exotic companion mammals.