Evaluation of Four-Hand Reduction for Obturator Hernia with the Guidance of Sonography (FROGS) As a New Treatment Strategy for Obturator Hernia: A Single-Center Study

Abstract

Background Obturator hernia is an uncommon but important cause of intestinal obstruction. Delayed treatment can be fatal. Emergency surgery is considered the most effective treatment; however, patients with obturator hernia usually have comorbidities, which precludes them from emergency surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Four-hand Reduction for Obturator hernia with the Guidance of Sonography (FROGS) as a new treatment strategy for obturator hernia. Methods Since November 2019, we have tried FROGS in all patients with obturator hernia at the emergency room. All the patients were female. We retrospectively compared the clinical data of 14 patients who underwent FROGS (after-FROGS group) with those of 23 patients who did not (before-FROGS group). Results No significant differences were observed in age, lesion side, duration of symptoms, the diameter of the prolapsed bowel, and predisposing factors. The body mass index was significantly lower in the after-FROGS group than in the before-FROGS group. Manual reduction was successfully performed in all 14 patients in the FROGS group, whereas in the before-FROGS group, 14 patients underwent manual reduction, of whom only one was successfully treated using the non-FROGS method. Bowel resection was avoided in all 14 patients in the after-FROGS group, whereas 8 patients underwent bowel resection in the before-FROGS group. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications and mortality within 30 days after hernia presentation between the two groups. Conclusion Manual reduction with FROGS was found to be safe and reproducible and can be the first treatment choice for obturator hernia.