Obturator Hernia – MRI Image

Abstract

Obturator hernia although considered a rare entity is the most frequently encountered pelvic floor hernia. Since the first published report in the 18th century, their unusual and unfamiliar clinical presentation still represents a diagnostic dilemma for the modern day clinician. A detailed history and clinical examination in our thin, elderly female patient who presented with intermittent small bowel obstruction and symptoms of right obturator nerve compression with a positive Howship-Romberg sign was crucial in establishing a diagnosis. Sophisticated radiologic modalities such as MRI as shown below in the case of our patient can reliably confirm the diagnosis of obturator hernia.

Obturator Hernia

Obturator hernia although considered a rare entity is the most frequently encountered pelvic floor hernia. Since the first published report in the 18th century, its unusual and unfamiliar clinical presentation has represented a diagnostic dilemma for the modern day clinician. A detailed history and clinical examination of our thin elderly female patient who presented with intermittent small bowel obstruction and symptoms of right obturator nerve compression with a positive Howship-Romberg sign were crucial in establishing a diagnosis. Sophisticated radiologic modalities such as MRI, as shown in Fig. 1, in the case of our patient can reliably confirm the diagnosis of obturator hernia.

Fig. 1.

MRI showing the obturator hernia