Obturator hernia

Overview
An obturator hernia is a rare type of abdominal wall hernia in which abdominal content protrudes through the obturator foramen. Because of differences in anatomy, it is much more common in women than in men, especially multiparous and older women who have recently lost a lot of weight. It often presents with bowel obstruction. The Howship-Romberg sign is suggestive of an obturator hernia, exacerbated by thigh extension, medial rotation and adduction. It is characterized by lancilating pain in the medial thigh/obturator distribution, extending to the knee; caused by hernia compression of the obturator nerve.