Diagnosis and management of obturator hernia: analysis of our experience

Background: Obturator hernia is a rare type of hernia. Because symptoms and signs are non-specific, diagnosis and treatment are often delayed, increasing the rate of strangulation and mortality. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 17 cases of obturator hernia at Raman y Cajal Hospital between January 1986 and December of 2007. Results: All patients were women with a mean age of 77 years (range 19-88 years). Mean time from onset of symptoms to surgery was 3 days (range 0-10 days). Howship-Romberg sign was positive in five cases (29,4%). Emergency surgery was performed in 16 cases (94%) and elective surgery in one (6%). CT has increased the rate of preoperative diagnosis from 16,6% to 41,2%, however, the rate of strangulation of bowel was 47%, requiring intestinal resection ten patients (59%). Hernia repair was performed using polypropylene mesh in 8 cases (47%) and by means of simple suture and apposition of the peritoneum in the rest 9 cases. Mean hospital postoperative stay was 11.65 days (range 4-26 days) and mortality was 23,5%. Conclusion: Although CT scan has facilitated us the correct diagnosis of obturator hernia, decreasing the mean time from onset of symptoms to surgery to 3 days, we could not reduce the rate of intestinal resection and mortality.