A 1-month-old infant presents to your office with an umbilical hernia. It is reducible but prolapses again almost immediately. It is TRUE that this defect
The umbilical hernia is the only hernia universally present at birth due to the need for umbilical cord patency up to that instant. After birth, the vast majority of umbilical hernias close by age 3-5 years. The risk of incarceration is low and repair is usually reserved for children older than 3-5 years of age or those with a fascial defect >1-2 cm in diameter.