Obturator hernia: diagnosis through medical imaging.

A rare case of obturator hernia is presented in a patient with persistent small bowel obstruction. There was a paucity of specific signs and poor general health which caused a delay in diagnosis. Ultimately delayed films from a barium follow through showed barium-filled bowel in the region of the right obturator foramen: A computed tomography scan then confirmed the diagnosis by demonstrating the barium-filled small bowel herniating through the right obturator foramen. Other imaging modalities such as herniography, barium enemas and ultrasound have also been successfully employed to diagnose obturator hernias.