A rare presentation of small bowel obstruction.

A 92-year-old, 41 kg female presented with a 4-day history of abdominal distension, intermittent lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and lack of bowel opening. Contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed multiple dilated small bowel loops, secondary to incarceration of the ileum in an obturator hernia (OH) on the right. The patient underwent an emergency laparotomy with reduction of the OH. The small bowel was viable and no resection was required. OH is a rare but significant cause of small bowel obstruction, with a high mortality rate. Of all the imaging modalities reviewed, CT scan is highly effective in reducing diagnostic delay, and ultimately can reduce morbidity and mortality rates of patients presenting with an incarcerated OH.