What is the obturator sign?

The obturator sign is the name for the test used to examine the irritation of nerves in the obturator internus muscle; it also refers to the result. The patient raises her leg and places her hip and knee joints at 90-degree angles, and the doctor applies pressure at different angles.

The obturator sign is frequently employed by physicians when a patient complains of lower abdominal pain, especially if the doctor believes appendicitis or another serious illness is likely. The sign can be an indicator of disorders such as abdominal tumors, perforated bowel, diverticular disease and ovarian pathologies in women, including ovarian tumors and pelvic inflammatory disease.