This article analyzed and summarized the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment methods of obturator hernia, in order to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

The clinical data of 13 patients with obturator hernia who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University and were confirmed by surgery from February 2017 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, follow-up time and recurrence were recorded.

All 13 patients underwent surgical treatment, 8 underwent traditional laparotomy, and 5 underwent TAPP repair. There was 1 case of postoperative incision infection, 1 case of postoperative pulmonary infection, both recovered after symptomatic treatment. One patient died the next day after being transferred to the ICU due to respiratory failure caused by underlying diseases, and the remaining 12 patients recovered and were discharged. The hospital stays ranged from 4 to 25 days, with an average of (11.5±5.8) days. All patients were cured and discharged, and were followed up for 1 to 63 months with a mean of (35.3±22.9) months. No hernia recurrence was observed during the follow-up period.

Obturator hernia is a rare disease in clinical practice, and its clinical manifestations are not specific. The diagnosis of obturator hernia should be considered in elderly and infirm multiparous women presenting with unexplained symptoms of small bowel obstruction. Preoperative abdominal and pelvic CT examination is helpful for early diagnosis of obturator hernia. Surgery should be performed as soon as possible after a clear diagnosis, and laparoscopic exploration and repair are recommended if the patient's conditions permit. According to the specific circumstances of the operation, if there is no contraindication, in order to prevent recurrence, a mesh can be used to enhance the repair effect.