Original Article Singapore Med J 2009; 50(9) : 866 Obturator hernia: diagnosis and treatment in the modern era Mantoo S K, Mak K, Tan T J ABSTRACT Introduction: Obturator hernia is a rare variety of abdominal hernia that nonetheless is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in the elderly age group. This article aimed to review the diagnosis and management 2 of obturator hernia by describing the anatomy, - clinical presentation, predisposing factors, diagnostic modalities and management in the modern era. Fig. I Case 1. Axial CT image of the pelvis shows a left obtura - tor hernia. Methods: We managed six cases of obturator hernia between 2003 and 2006. Five out of six cases were diagnosed by a preoperative computed tomography (CT) and the sixth case was diagnosed by ultrasonography. All except one were managed by an exploratory laparotomy and repair of the hernia, and one was treated with laparoscopic repair. SI Results: Correct preoperative diagnosis was made in five out of five (100 percent) patients by clinical signs and CT of the abdomen and pelvis, and the sixth patient was operated on the basis of an ultrasonographical diagnosis and strong i A clinical suspicion. Fig. 2 Case 4. Intraoperative photograph shows the widened right obturator canal. Conclusion: We conclude that the rapid Department of evaluation by CT of the abdomen and pelvis Table I. Demographics of six patients with obturator Surgery, hernia. Alexandra and surgical intervention are possible, thereby Hospital, Patient characteristics Mean (range) 378 Alexandra reducing the morbidity and mortality of patients Road, with obturator hernia. An algorithm for the Singapore 159964 Age (years) 88.8 (76-96) management of obturator hernia is proposed. Weight (kg) 33 (25-48) Mantoo SK, MS, Height (cm) 140 (134-144) MMed, MRCS Body mass index (kg/m2) 15.5 (13.5-19.5) Registrar Keywords: abdominal hernia, obturator hernia, No. of deliveries 4.1 (1-7) Mak K, MMed, strangulated hernia FRCS Senior Consultant Singapore Medi 2009;50(9):866-870 and Head widely throughout the world. It accounts for 0.07%-1.0% Tan TJ, MD INTRODUCTION of all hernias, and 0.2%-1.6% of all cases of mechanical Consultant Obturator hernia is a rare variety of abdominal hernia obstruction of the small bowel. Asians have been shown Correspondence to: Dr Surendra Kumar that nonetheless is a significant cause of morbidity and to have the highest rates, while Western studies indicate Mantoo mortality, especially in the elderly age group.i1-3i It occurs Tel: (65) 9664 5411 a much lower incidence.') Obturator hernia poses a Fax: (65) 6379 3540 through the obturator foramen in the pelvis with no diagnostic challenge as signs and symptoms are often Email:skmantoo@ yahoo.co.in external lump. The incidence rates of obturator hernia vary nonspecific, making a preoperative diagnosis difficult. Singapore Med J 2009; 50(9) : 867 Table II. Clinical and surgical details of the six patients with obturator hernia. Clinical characteristics Case I Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5 Case 6 Age (years)/gender 96/F 89/F 76/F 90/F 93/F 78/F Duration of symptoms (days) 4 6 3 4 3 2 Intestinal obstruction Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Intermittent obstruction Yes No Yes No No Yes Previous abdominal operation No No No No No No Howship-Romberg sign NA NA NA Yes Yes No Comorbidity COPD, IHD OA, DM, IHD Nil HT, DM IHD IHD CT (abdomen & pelvis) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Preoperative diagnosis of Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No obturator hernia Side affected Left Right Left Right Bilateral Left Stage of obturator hernia III I I III III I&II II Hernia content SB SB SB SB SB Nil Operative approach EL -Imi EL -Imi EL -Imi EL -Imi EL -Imi Lap Bowel resection Yes No Yes Yes No No Repair type Mesh SC Mesh Mesh SC Mesh Hospital stay (days) 36 24 6 10 44 8 Outcome Survived Survived Survived Survived Survived Survived Follow-up (20 months) Lost Well Well Well Lost Well NA: not applicable; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; IHD: ischaemic heart disease; OA: osteoarthritis; DM: diabetes mellitus; HT: hypertension; EL -Imi: exploratory laparotomy - lower midline incision; Lap: laparoscopy; SB: small bowel; SC: suture closure The mortality rate of obturator hernia is highest among RESULTS all abdominal wall hernias (range 13%-40%). Six cases For Cases 1-5, the correct preoperative diagnosis of obturator hernia were managed between 2003 and was made in all five (100 percent) patients by clinical 2006 at this institution, and one of the cases was treated signs and CT of the abdomen and pelvis (Fig. 1). The with laparoscopic repair. The three stages of obturator patient characteristics are summarised in Table I. All hernia formation were described by Gray et al.i5' We have five patients were operated via a lower vertical midline correlated these stages with the computed tomography abdominal incision. The diagnosis of obturator hernia (CT) findings, predicting the severity of the obstruction. was confirmed in all cases (Fig. 2). The hernial sac in A correct preoperative diagnosis was made in all the six all the patients contained the small bowel. Three out of cases. An algorithm for the management of obturator five operated patients required a small bowel resection. hernia is proposed. Case 5 was found to have a bilateral obturator hernia. The stage of hernia was verified and correlated with the METHODS CT findings. A simple closure of the obturator canal with We managed six cases of obturator hernia from December prolene no. 1 was done in two patients (Stage II hernias) 2003 to December 2006. These cases represented 0.06% and a prolene mesh (15 cm x 12 cm) was used in three of all hernias repaired in our institution during this patients (Stage III hernias). The mesh was anchored with period. Five of the six patients presented with signs and nonabsorbable sutures. The mean hospital stay was 24 symptoms of intestinal obstruction to the emergency (range 6 /ICI) days. There was no mortality. Postoperative department. None had previous abdominal surgery. No complications were pneumonia (n = 1), and wound external hernias on examination were noted. Howship- infection (n = 2). No recurrence was noted in the three Romberg sign (HRS) was positive in two patients. CT patients who were followed -up at 20 months. The clinical of the abdomen and pelvis was done in five patients and surgical details of the patients are summarised in preoperatively. The sixth patient was operated electively Table II. with the preoperative diagnosis of femoral hernia made on Case 6 was a 78 -year -old woman who was diagnosed ultrasonography; and on laparoscopy, an obturator hernia electively by clinical examination and ultrasonography to was confirmed and repaired with a mesh. We reviewed have a left femoral hernia. A laparoscopic transabdominal these cases and examined the clinical presentation, age, preperitoneal was chosen to repair this with the view to body weight, comorbidities, preoperative diagnosis, check for any obstructed bowel. An obturator hernia was operative findings, complications and outcome in this confirmed by exposing the widened obturator canal, retrospective review. and was repaired using a 15 cm x 11 cm prolene mesh Singapore Med J 2009; 50(9) : 868 Fig. 3 Diagram shows the stages of obturator hernia2 after reducing the viable small bowel. The patient had an nausea and vomiting-and it is present in more than uneventful recovery. 80% of patients. Obstruction is usually partial due to a high frequency (41%-100%) of Richter's herniation of DISCUSSION the small bowel into the obturator canal. Obstruction Arnaud de Ronsil in 1724 first described the obturator can be acute or intermittent, which is an important clue hernia, and Henry Obre first successfully repaired it in to diagnosis (Cases 1, 3 and 6). An external hernia is 1851.161 Obturator hernia occurs through the obturator uncommon. Gray et al described three anatomical stages canal, which is 2-3 cm long and 1 cm wide, and contains of the formation of obturator hernia. The first stage begins the obturator nerve and vessels. It is bounded superiorly with the entrance of preperitoneal fat into the pelvic orifice and laterally by the pubic bone and inferiorly by the of the obturator canal, forming a pilot fat plug. During the obturator membrane. Corpus adiposum is a cushion second stage, a peritoneal dimple forms and progresses to for the obturator nerve. Obturator hernia is nine times form a peritoneal sac. During the third stage, symptoms more common in females due to their wider pelvis, more are produced by herniation of the viscera into this saci5' triangular obturator canal opening and greater transverse (Fig. 3). diameter. It occurs most frequently in emaciated patients Clinical signs are seldom thought of and hence aged between 70 and 90 years, and hence its nickname, seldom sought. (8) Most of the signs are due to compression "little old lady's hernia".' The loss of protective of the obturator nerve by the hernia sac and its contents. preperitoneal fat and lymphatic tissue (corpus adiposum) The common signs which can be elicited are obturator around the obturator vessels and nerves facilitates the neuralgia which presents as either hyper- or hypoaesthesia formation of hernia. from the inguinal crease to the anteromedial aspect of the The clinical presentation is vague with symptoms thigh. The HRS is characterised by pain in the medial thigh, of bowel obstruction-dull, crampy abdominal pain, and less often in the hip.(8) Flexion of the thigh usually Singapore Med J 2009; 50(9) : 869 On presentation 1 History & clinical examination 1 l Peritoneal signs present Peritoneal signs absent Urgent laparotomy CT of the abdomen & pelvis j r Obturator hernia present Obturator hernia absent Emergent laparotomy Laparoscopic repair Look for other diagnosis Fig.