What does herniorrhaphy refer to in surgical terms?

Herniorrhaphy is a surgical procedure specifically focused on the repair of a hernia. A hernia occurs when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall. The term "herniorrhaphy" combines "hernia," which refers to the protrusion, and "-rrhaphy," which is a suffix used in medical terminology that denotes suturing or repairing. During this procedure, the surgeon will typically pull the bulging tissue back into place and then reinforce the weakened area, often using sutures or other materials to support the tissue and prevent recurrence. This defines herniorrhaphy distinctly as the intervention aimed solely at hernia repair, distinguishing it from other unrelated surgical procedures like the removal of organs or grafting activities.