84 - Athletic Pubalgia/Core Muscle Injury and Adductor Pathology

Abstract

Athletic pubalgia, or core muscle injury, is an umbrella term describing several anatomic injury patterns present in athletes with groin pain. Various terms, including sports hernia, Gilmore's groin, osteitis pubis, slap-shot gut, and sportsman's hernia, have been utilized to describe the condition. There is growing recognition, however, that groin injuries in athletes comprise a complex set of injuries to the musculature of the abdominal wall, adductors, hip joint, pubic symphysis, and sacroiliac joint that can be a source of significant disability. The term core muscle injury is also increasingly utilized as an alternative to athletic pubalgia. Athletic pubalgia most commonly involves the abdominal wall and adductors but may have significant overlap with conditions of the pubic symphysis (osteitis pubis) and motion-limiting conditions of the hip joing (femoroacetabular impingement). Although our understanding of the pathophysiology of athletic pubalgia has improved significantly, considerable controversy still remains. Numerous methods of surgical treatment of athletic pubalgia exist, all generally with high rates of return to athletics and short recoveries noted in the literature.