Subacute Bowel Obstruction Secondary to an Obturator Hernia

Obturator hernia is a rare abdominal wall hernia and is one of the rare causes of intestinal obstruction. Due to lack of specific clinical symptoms in the early stage, and the deep position of hernia absence of surface swelling, few cases are diagnosed definitively before surgery. Therefore, obturator hernia is still a serious disease in clinical practice, with high mortality and morbidity. Herein, we report an 85-year female who was hospitalised with bowel obstruction. Preoperative computed tomography scan was performed, which revealed an incarcerated obturator hernia preoperatively; and it was treated successfully. This report reviews the diagnosis and treatment of obturator hernia by describing its anatomy, clinical manifestations and clinical signs. Increased awareness and proper management of the disease will lead to a decline in mortality and morbidity.