What is obturator hernia?

Obturator hernia is a relatively rare type of abdominal hernia in which abdominal contents protrude through the obturator canal, a condition that can lead to small bowel obstruction. [1–5] This condition usually occurs in elderly, thin, emaciated patients aged 70 to 90 years. [6–15]

What causes an obturator hernia?

The obturator foramen is an opening in the pelvis through which blood vessels and nerves passes. An obturator hernia is caused when the intestinal tissues bulges through the obturator foramen opening. This type of hernia occurs in women particularly elderly women.

Is obturator hernia an internal hernia?

Obturator hernia is a rare pelvic hernia and poses a diagnostic challenge. Obturator hernia occurs when there is protrusion of intra-abdominal contents through the obturator foramen in the pelvis.

How do you fix an obturator hernia?

Obturator hernias are approached abdominally and can be repaired laparoscopically. If the hernia content is difficult to reduce, incision of the obturator membrane at the inferior margin will lessen damage to the obturator vessel or nerve. Mesh closure is necessary for a tension-free repair.

How is an obturator hernia difficult to diagnose?

This type of hernia is difficult to diagnose as well. Since the intestines are herniated through the obturator hernia, this results in a bowel obstruction. The doctors may correctly diagnose the bowel obstruction without realizing the bowel obstruction is actually caused by the obturator hernia.

What are the symptoms of an obstructed inguinal hernia?

In obstructed inguinal hernia the patient has symptoms of intestinal obstruction. There are dilated bowel loops in the abdomen which show active peristalsis. The appearance of the bowel in the hernial sac depends on whether the obstruction is to afferent or efferent loop in the sac. In the more common afferent loop obstruction]

Where is the foramen of the obturator located?

The obturator foramen is occluded by the obturator membrane, which is pierced anterosuperiorly by the obturator artery, vein and nerve . This neurovascular bundle then travels along a 2-3 cm oblique tunnel, the obturator canal.

What causes volvulus, inguinal hernia, and intussusception?

Hernias, Volvulus, and Intussusception. The inguinal hernia can be associated with conditions like hydrocele, varicocele, or mass of the cord, like an encysted hydrocele or lipoma, which are readily diagnosed by sonography. In male children, an indirect inguinal hernia may be associated with undescended testis.