A Case Report of Laparoscopic-Assisted Repair of a Rare Congenital Lumbar (Grynfeltt-Lesshaft) Hernia

A congenital lumbar hernia is a rare type of hernia that can affect children born with lumbo-costo-vertebral syndrome. This case report is the first to describe a hybrid laparoscopic-assisted approach, which enabled precise intra-operative localization of a pediatric congenital lumbar hernia, and definitive surgical repair was then undertaken through an open approach. Unlike prior studies that have focused solely on either open or laparoscopic techniques, this hybrid approach offers a new strategy to improve surgical accuracy, particularly where imaging and clinical examination are inconclusive. Our literature review found that open and laparoscopic repair of congenital lumbar hernias are both safe and feasible approaches, with the choice of either depending on the surgeon's preference and expertise.