Appendicitis in an obturator hernia

We present a case of a 79-year-old female with a history of pain at the right groin for 9 days. Computer tomography of the pelvis showed herniation of the appendix through the obturator canal with a huge abscess surrounding the right hip joint. Laparotomy was performed and histopathology confirmed a perforated necrotic tip of the herniated appendix. An obturator hernia is a rare hernia of the pelvic floor. It is most common in old, emaciated, multiparous women and can cause groin pain with extension to the medial aspect of the thigh. In case of incarceration of bowel, patients also present with obstruction. Isolated incarceration of the appendix, however, does not cause obstruction. The diagnosis of an obturator hernia is often delayed, due to a non-specific clinical presentation. CT scan may offer the clue to the correct diagnosis and should be performed in case of a possible obturator hernia.