Lumbar hernia after iliac crest bone harvest.

A lumbar hernia is a rare occurrence, with about 300 cases reported in the literature since the first publication by Garengeot in 1731. Incisional lumbar hernias are defined as secondary acquired hernias that can develop after surgeries such as nephrectomies or aortic aneurysm repairs. Harvesting bone from the iliac crest also has been identified as a cause of incisional lumbar hernias, occurring after about 0.5% of these procedures. This article discusses a patient presenting with flank pain years after an iliac crest bone harvest as well as a brief review of the pathogenesis and history of lumbar hernias.