OC-007 ATHLETES TREATED FOR INGUINAL-RELATED GROIN PAIN BY ENDOSCOPIC TOTALLY EXTRAPERITONEAL (TEP) REPAIR: LONG-TERM BENEFITS

Abstract

Abstract Aim Inguinal-related groin pain (IRGP) in athletes is a debilitating condition with a multifactorial origin. Hence, it creates difficulties in diagnosis and treatment, demanding a multidisciplinary approach. If conservative treatment fails, totally extra-peritoneal repair (TEP) has been shown effective in pain relief within 3 months, but results of long-term follow-up are sparse. For that reason, it is important to know whether these positive outcomes are maintained with longer term follow-up. This study aimed to evaluate whether these patients still benefit many years after the procedure. Material & Methods Patients that participated in the initial prospective, observational cohort study (TEP-ID-study) were subjected to two telephone questionnaires. The first questionnaire aimed to detect recurrence of initial complaints and the occurrence of new groin-related complaints. Secondly, physical functioning was assessed by using the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS). Results Out of 32 male participants in the original study, 28 patients (88%) were available with a median follow-up of 83 months (range: 69–95). Seventy-five percent of athletes were pain-free during sports (p < 0.001). At very long-term follow-up, a median NRS of 0 was observed (IQR 0-2). This was a significant decrease compared to scores pre- and 3-months post-operatively (p ≤ 0.001). Although ten patients described recurrence of symptoms, physical functioning improved on all HAGOS subscales (p ≤ 0.005). Conclusions This study demonstrates the safety and effectivity of TEP-repair in a prospective cohort of athletes with IRGP, for whom conservative treatment had failed, with a follow-up period of over 80 months.