Successful endoscopic treatment of chronic groin pain in athletes.
BACKGROUND
Chronic groin pain, especially in professional sportsmen, is a difficult clinical problem.


METHODS
From January 1999 to August 2005, 55 professional and semiprofessional sportsmen (53 males; mean age, 25 +/- 4.5 years; range, 17-36 years) with undiagnosed chronic groin pain were followed prospectively. All the patients underwent an endoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) mesh placement.


RESULTS
Incipient hernia was diagnosed in the study athletes: 15 on the right side (27%), 12 on the left side (22%), and 9 bilaterally (16%). In 20 patients (36%), an inguinal hernia was found: 3 direct inguinal hernias (5%) and 17 indirect hernias (31%). All the athletes returned to their normal sports level within 3 months after the operation.


CONCLUSIONS
A TEP repair must be proposed to patients with prolonged groin pain unresponsive to conservative treatment. If no clear pathology is identified, reinforcement of the wall using a mesh offers good clinical results for athletes with idiopathic groin pain.
van Veen
R N
RN
Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Room Z-836, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015, GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. r.n.vanveen@erasmusmc.nl
de Baat
P
P
Heijboer
M P
MP
Kazemier
G
G
Punt
B J
BJ
Dwarkasing
R S
RS
Bonjer
H J
HJ
van Eijck
C H J
CH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006119:Groin / Q000503:physiopathology; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013177:Sports; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D016896:Treatment Outcome