Obturator hernia.

Four cases of strangulated obturator hernia are presented with a brief review of the literature up to 1980. All four patients were emaciated women over 50 years old and in all instances the hernia was on the left side. None of the cases was diagnosed preoperatively and all had Howship-Romberg's sign absent. A diagnosis of strangulated obturator hernia should always be considered in any elderly, thin female with clinical features of intestinal obstruction and without any history of previous abdominal operations. Three of the patients died due to delayed presentation, delayed operative interference and rupture of the gangrenous loop leading to septicaemia.