Obturator hernia in an ageing society.

INTRODUCTION Obturator hernia is an important cause of small bowel obstruction and is associated with difficult diagnosis and high mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed 22 cases of intestinal obstruction due to obturator hernia that necessitated surgical intervention over the last 17 years and evaluated the changes in the number of patients based on the census data. RESULTS All cases were elderly females. The Howship-Romberg sign was present in 15 patients (68%). Computed tomography (CT) correctly diagnosed 13/15 (87%) of cases in which it was performed prospectively. The median time to surgery was 7.5+/-5.2 days for those patients with bowel resection, compared to 0.8+/-1.3 days for those without (P <0.05). The number of patients with obturator hernia has increased with an ageing society. CONCLUSIONS The rising incidence of obturator hernia is probably linked to an ageing society. CT of the pelvis was helpful in obtaining the correct diagnosis. The shorter the delay between admission and surgery, the lower the bowel resection rate. Laparotomy at an early stage is recommended in such patients as it leads to reduced morbidity and mortality.