POCUS as a Diagnostic Tool for Obturator Hernia

Dr. Jason Jaramillo is a New York City-based MD who provides patient care at the Maimonides Medical Center. With an extensive background in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), Jason Jaramillo, MD, follows related developments in his field.

An early 2023 paper looked at the effectiveness of POCUS scans in the diagnosis of obturator hernia within an emergency room (ER) setting. This condition involves a protrusion of the intra-abdominal viscus (intestine or bowel) through the obturator foramen, or the large opening in the hip bone.

The researchers found that, early within the disease’s progression, obturator hernia does not always have primary symptoms of bowel obstruction. In addition, the obturator foramen’s deep location means that the condition often goes undiagnosed during physical exams. Such a condition may, however, be suspected in cases where lean elderly patients experience unprovoked pain in the medial thigh.

With delayed diagnosis linked to increased mortality and morbidity, CT scans of the pelvis and abdomen are the primary investigative pathway for obturator hernia. A high-frequency probe using POCUS can also prove essential in making timely diagnosis in an emergency room setting. This is particularly the case in clinical settings where access to CT scan equipment is limited.