Sports Hernia

synonyms: athletic pubalgia, sportsman’s hernia, pre-hernia complex, Gilmore’s groin

Sports Hernia ICD-9

Sports Hernia Etiology / Epidemiology / Natural History

• Common cause of groin pain in athletes
• Clinical diagnosis which can only be confirmed at surgery: torn external oblique aponeurosis, a torn conjoined tendon, and / or dehiscence between the conjoined tendon and the inguinal ligament.

Sports Hernia Anatomy

• Associated with weakening of the posterior inguinal wall.

Sports Hernia Clinical Evaluation

• Resisted hip adduction increases pain.
• May have radiaiton into the testicles and/or adductor region

Sports Hernia Xray / Diagnositc Tests

• A/P hip, Lateral hip, A/P pelvis: normal
• MRI / CT: generally normal, but may be helpful to exclude other diagnoses.

Sports Hernia Classification / Treatment

• Treatment = laparoscopic hernia repair (Kluin J, AJSM 2004;32:944), Genitsaris M, AJSM 2004;32:1238).

Sports Hernia Associated Injuries / Differential Diagnosis

Sports Hernia Complications

Sports Hernia Follow-up Care

Sports Hernia Review References

• Meyers WC, AJSM 2000;28:2
• Athletic pubalgia: definition and surgical treatment.
  Ahumada LA, Ashruf S, Espinosa-de-los-Monteros A, Long JN, de la Torre JI, Garth WP, Vasconez LO.