Sports hernia

Abstract

Pubalgia is a general term used to describe severe groin and hip pain in the professional athlete. The etiology of this condition can range from adductor tendon injuries, to hip injuries, to abdominal wall injuries. One of the least understood and most perplexing problems is the sports hernia. This diagnosis should be considered in athletes who do not respond to conservative treatment of pubalgia. Only recently has this entity become a known cause of persistent groin pain in the athlete. Some surgeons still do not believe this condition exists. We evaluated 96 professional athletes who underwent surgery for sports hernias. Thirty patients (31%) had adductor pain associated with either lower abdominal or inguinal pain. There were 92 patients (96%) who returned to their preinjury levels of performance. One should not offer surgery unless the groin pain has been present for at least 3 months. The authors describe the laparoscopic preperitoneal approach to repair these injuries. With the proper method of diagnosis and the expertise of an experienced laparoscopic surgeon, the athlete can return to active participation in sports within 3 to 6 weeks after surgery.