Obturator hernia

Obturator hernia
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	K45
ICD-9	553.8
DiseasesDB	29334
eMedicine	article/775630
MeSH	D006553

An obturator hernia is a rare type of abdominal wall hernia in which abdominal content protrudes through the obturator foramen. Because of differences in anatomy, it is much more common in women than in men, especially multiparous and older women who have recently lost a lot of weight. The diagnosis is often made intraoperatively after presenting with bowel obstruction. A gynecologist may come across this type of hernias as a secondary finding during gynecological open surgery or laparoscopy ^[1] The Howship-Romberg sign is suggestive of an obturator hernia, exacerbated by thigh extension, medial rotation and abduction. It is characterized by lancilating pain in the medial thigh/obturator distribution, extending to the knee; caused by hernia compression of the obturator nerve.

References

1. ^ Walid MS, Heaton RL (2009). "Pararectal and obturator hernias as incidental findings on gynecologic laparoscopy". Hernia 14 (1): 109–11. doi:10.1007/s10029-009-0515-0. PMID 19495923.