Three Cases of Obturator Hernia Diagnosed Preoperatively

Abstract

We considered a strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of obturator hernia from 3 incarcerated cases. Case 1, an 80-year-old female, was admitted for sudden onset of vomiting with right femoral inside tenderness. Case 2, a 77-year-old female, was admitted for mechanical ileus with left coxa pain. The patient had been complaining of pain on either side of the coxa alternately for 2 years. Both cases were immediately diagnosed as incarcerated obturator hernia by computed tomography (CT). Case 3, a 96-year-old female with senile dementia, had a sudden attack of mechanical ileus during treatment for heart failure. Although no local symptoms, including the Howship-Romberg sign, were shown, the patient was diagnosed as having an obturator hernia from the CT findings. All 3 cases were repaired with a mesh inlay via an intra-abdominal approach. Case 2 was identified laparoscopically as having a contralateral complicating obturator hernia with an inguinal hernia.