Broad ligament defects as a cause of chronic pelvic pain

Abstract

We report a case of a woman with chronic right-sided pelvic pain with an unusual combination of broad ligament defects and associated terminal ileum and caecum herniation. Reduction of the hernia and closure of the defects at laparoscopy resulted in resolution of the patient’s painful symptoms. Review of the literature suggests that, although rare, such defects should be considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent pelvic pain. Where found incidentally, broad ligament defects should be repaired in order to prevent sinister complications such as bowel obstruction and strangulation.