Sixty-One Cases of Obturator Hernia in Chiangrai Regional Hospital: Retrospective Study
Chaiwetch Thanapaisan MD*, Chaiyut Thanapaisal MD**
Affiliation : * Division of Surgery, Chiangrai Regional Hospital, Chiangrai ** Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen
Objective : To review the patient characteristics and clinical symptoms, intraoperative finding and manage-
ment, including morbidity and mortality rate of obturator hernia cases.
Materials and Methods : A retrospective study was performed in 61 patients diagnosed as obturator hernia at
Chiangrai Regional Hospital between January 2000 and December 2005.
Results : The incidence of obturator hernia is 61 of 2,828 cases (2.2%) of all hernias, female:male 6.6:1. The
mean age was 72.85 years. The mean body weight was 35.72 Kg. Howship-Romberg’s sign were positive in
eight patients (13.11%). Thirty-five patients (57.38%) were Richter type hernia, left:right side 3:2. Strangula-
tion of bowel occurred in 41 patients (67.21%) Mortality rate was 11.47%. All patients with postoperative
complications and all deaths showed bowel strangulation and all were more than 70 years of age.
Conclusion : In the present study, the authors found a high incidence of obturator hernia (2.2% of all hernias)
compared with a previous report (0.05%-1.4% of all hernias). This high incident rate might relate to the
specific local life style of people in Chiangrai as most patients had a habit of smoking. Chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), old age, and low body weight were possible contributing factors. Bowel strangu-
lation and age more than 70 years old were associated with morbidity and mortality.
Keywords : Obturator hernia, Howship-Romberg’s sign, Intestinal obstruction
