Case ReportRare case of incarcerated obturator hernia: Case report and review of literature

•Obturator hernia is a rare condition among abdominal hernias.•Clinical diagnosis is challenging and it usually appears as an intestinal obstruction.•Early diagnosis and surgical treatment reduce morbidity and mortality.

IntroductionObturator hernia is a rare condition accounting for less than 1% of all intra abdominal hernias. Clinical diagnosis is considered a challenge for most surgeons. It usually appears as an intestinal obstruction. Confirmation of diagnosis is carried out by means of imaging or during surgery.Case reportAn 85-year-old female patient, with symptoms of intestinal obstruction of 24 h duration was admitted to the emergency room of Unimed Hospital - Belo Horizonte. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a herniation of the small bowel through the right obturator canal with an intestinal distension proximally. At laparotomy, the presence of a right obturator hernia with an ileal strangulation was confirmed. Segmental enterectomy with primary anastomosis and herniorrhaphy for the closure of the obturator foramen were performed.DiscussionObturator hernias typically affect women, elderly, emaciated and multiparous. Symptoms are non-specific and associated with an intestinal obstruction. Howship-Romberg sign, considered pathognomonic, is generally absent. Abdominal CT scan can aid in pre-operative diagnosis and the treatment is surgical.ConclusionEarly diagnosis and surgical treatment are imperative in obturator hernias due to the high morbidity and mortality that occur in cases where the intervention is delayed.