Obturator Hernia, an unusual cause of small bowel obstruction: Radiographic and surgical findings

Obturator hernia is a rare condition, it contributes to about 1% of incidence of all hernias, even less frequently are they diagnosed preoperatively, with the vast majority being found incidentally at laparotomy for small bowel obstruction.

Diagnosing an obturator hernia clinically is a challenging one due to vague signs and symptoms. Pelvic CT is almost 100% accurate in the diagnosis of obturator hernia and should be the modality of choice in older patients presenting with intestinal obstruction of unknown etiology. This case report describes a thin elderly woman, with a history of 5 days acute abdominal pain, which was correctly diagnosed before surgery as an incarcerated obturator hernia using CT.