Obturator Hernia: Report of a Rare Case

TL;DR

This paper reports a rare case of obturator hernia in an elderly woman, highlighting the challenges in diagnosis and successful surgical treatment.

Contribution

The contribution is a detailed case report of obturator hernia diagnosis and management in a 73-year-old patient.

Findings

Computed tomography confirmed a right obturator hernia in a 73-year-old woman with abdominal pain.

The hernia was repaired successfully without small intestine resection.

The patient recovered well postoperatively with no complications.

Abstract

Obturator hernia, an uncommon type of abdominal wall hernia, predominantly occurs in elderly, multiparous women and often presents with nonspecific symptoms. The preoperative diagnosis of obturator hernia is particularly challenging due to its vague clinical manifestations. The clinical picture consists of intestinal blockage, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The treatment is only surgical. Delayed diagnosis can result in intestinal necrosis, thereby increasing the risk of mortality. This report discusses the case of a 73-year-old woman who experienced abdominal pain and restricted extension of her right leg. Computed tomography confirmed the presence of a right obturator hernia. The hernia was successfully repaired without necessitating resection of the small intestine. Postoperatively, the patient recovered well and experienced no complications.

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