‘Little old lady's hernia’ causing small bowel obstruction in a man: a case report with a review of literature on the pathophysiology of obturator hernias

Abstract

Commonly known as 'little old lady's hernia', obturator hernias are usually seen in frail, octogenarian multiparous women reporting non-specific nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and anteromedial thigh pain. They are exceedingly rare; even less frequently are they diagnosed preoperatively, with the vast majority being found incidentally at laparotomy for small bowel obstruction. This case report describes an atypical presentation of a 'little old lady's hernia' in a man, in whom, thanks to high degree of clinical suspicion, an incarcerated obturator hernia was diagnosed preoperatively and treated successfully.

Computed tomography in the investigation and management of obturator hernia

“…A number of case reports and case series have advocated the use of CT scan in the diagnosis of obturator hernia. [3][4][5] We corroborate this recommendation. Indeed, we would develop this point further by emphasising the point that clinical examination alone is not reliable in the diagnosis of obturator hernia.…”

Surgical Abdomen

“…20). Prompt surgical intervention is indicated once the diagnosis is confirmed (Mandarry et al 2012;Blach and Ghosh 2014;Pavlidis et al 2018;Gilbert and Byard 2019).…”

Obstrucción intestinal por hernia obturatriz: Serie de casos

“…Son cuadros infrecuentes. Reportes previos la citan en el 0,07% a 1% de todas las hernias, y hasta 0,2-1,6% de las obstrucciones intestinales bajas mecánicas [1][2][3][4] . Interesantemente, la mayor parte de las series reportadas son asiáticas: 0,073% de todas las hernias en Occidente, 1% en Oriente 4 .…”