To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment of obturator hernia in order to summarize experience, improve understanding and improve prognosis.

The clinical data of 35 patients with obturator hernia treated in the First People's Hospital of Taicang from January 2010 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics and treatment methods of patients with different ages, body mass index and height were analyzed.

All 35 patients were elderly women, and 17 (48.6%) were complicated with chronic diseases. Stratified analysis showed that the proportion of patients with chronic diseases was significantly different between different age groups (P=0.036), and the proportion of patients with chronic diseases gradually increased with the increase of age. The proportion of patients with chronic diseases is 36.4% among patients aged 60-79, 47.6% of patients with chronic diseases among patients aged 80-89, and 100% of patients with chronic diseases among patients over 90 years old. There was also a statistical difference between patients of different body mass index groups (P=0.009). The proportion of people with chronic diseases was highest in the body mass index range of 15.01-17.00 kg/m², reaching (72.7%). 32 patients underwent surgery and 9 required bowel resection due to intestinal necrosis, 1 required mesh repair. Among them, 12 patients (34.3%) underwent ICU treatment due to critical condition. The proportion of patients treated in the ICU was significantly different between different age groups (P=0.096). The proportion of patients treated in the ICU in the age range of 80-89 years was 47.6%. With the increase in height, the proportion of patients treated in the ICU also increased. The other three patients were treated conservatively. All patients were cured and discharged from the hospital. Hospitalization time was 5 to 20 days, with a median of 9 days.

The patients with obturator hernia are mostly elderly and emaciated female patients who often have chronic diseases, and there are many severe patients in the clinic. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of obturator hernia can lead to intestinal necrosis or even life-threatening complication, which requires clinicians to pay attention to and intervene as soon as possible to improve the prognosis of patients.