Rare cause of intestinal obstruction: A case of obturator hernia in an old age female

An obturator hernia is a rare pelvic hernia in which abdominal contents protrude through the obturator canal. It is most commonly seen in elderly, thin, multiparous women. Here is a case of an 80-year-old multiparous female who came to the surgical emergency ward with acute intestinal obstruction. On investigating, CECT abdomen and pelvis was suggestive of a small bowel obstruction due to left side obturator hernia. The patient has been taken for emergency exploratory laparotomy, which turned out to be a strangulated obturator hernia with herniation of a loop of small intestine through the obturator canal. The patient had a good postoperative course. Obturator hernia must be considered in elderly multiparous females when presenting with features of acute intestinal obstruction. Early diagnosis needs to be done with CECT imaging and early surgical intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality.