Richter's Type of Incarcerated Obturator Hernia that Presented with a Deep Femoral Abscess: An Autopsy Case Report

BACKGROUND Richter's obturator hernia is a rare abdominal hernia that is difficult to diagnose. The purpose of this case report is to show an unusual presentation of a fatal Richter's obturator hernia that was accompanied by a femoral abscess. CASE REPORT An 89-year-old woman complained of sudden left coxalgia and a gait disorder but no abdominal symptoms. She had no history of trauma or surgery in the inguinal area. Twenty-three days after her first complaint of coxalgia, the patient was admitted in a coma with necrotizing fasciitis in the left inguinal area. The patient died of asystole due to hyperkalemia. During surveillance for the cause of death, a Richter's type of incarcerated obturator hernia was identified at autopsy. The incarcerated small intestine had penetrated into the left obturator foramen to form an abscess that extended into the deep femoral region. CONCLUSIONS Obturator hernia accompanied by femoral abscess is extremely rare, but it should be suspected when a patient with no history of trauma or surgery has a femoral abscess, even in the absence of abdominal symptoms.