It's emerged that Madonna underwent a procedure to correct a hernia whilst she was in Los Angeles last week. The singer's spokeswoman confirmed that the "minor operation" took place following her live performance at the Grammys on 8 Feb. The spokeswoman added that she had fully recovered in time to collect her Best International Female award at the Brits on Wednesday night, although it might explain her rather brief appearance at the event.
A hernia, if you didn't know, has no particular connection to age or to physical activity, and is basically what happens when one of the natural weaknesses in the abdominal wall opens a little too wide, allowing the intestines to force their way through. They affect around 10% of the population. So now you know.