Clinical anatomy : official journal of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists & the British Association of Clinical Anatomists
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An obturator hernia is an infrequent but significant cause of intestinal obstruction. The incidence of obturator hernias is between 0.05 and 1.4% of all hernias. The mortality rate can be as high as 70% when acutely incarcerated due to the difficulty in diagnosis and delay in surgical treatment Three progressive stages of obturator herniation have been classified and can be one of three different varieties depending on the pathway the herniated sac follows. ⋯ The abdominal surgical approach is most preferred when a diagnosis is uncertain and laparoscopy should be employed in elective early surgeries. This aim of this article is to review the diagnosis and treatment of obturator hernia by describing the anatomy, embryology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management currently in use. Increased awareness and proper management of this condition will result in decreased morbidity and mortality.