An unusual case of early-stage obturator hernia causing bowel obstruction and strangulation

Obturator hernia is rare, contributing to less than 2% of the total incidence of small bowel obstructions. The diagnosis of obturator hernia is still a big challenge today. Abdominopelvic Computed Tomography scans have better diagnostic value preoperatively, showing the bowel loop between the pectineus and obturator externus muscle. We report an unusual case of a 77-year-old woman who presented to the emergency ward with an acute abdominal pain. Plain abdominal radiography showed small bowel obstruction. However, a computed tomography scan only showed signs of closed-loop obstruction and strangulation with bulging of the peritoneum through the obturator foramen. Exploration by laparotomy allowed complete evaluation of the obturator canal and confirmed the diagnosis of obturator hernia as a cause of bowel obstruction and strangulation.