Sportsman’s Groin

Sportsman’s Groin – pain in the groin during sports – is a very common problem. Sportman’s Groin is diagnosed and treated by ZweiChirurgen at our “Competence centre for hernia surgery” in Switzerland (Basel, Zurich, Liestal).

Sports such as hockey, soccer, tennis, badminton, or long-distance running are prone to this problem. In most cases an overload of the musculoskeletal system or joints are responsible for the pain. Here we frequently find strains of the adductor and iliopsoas muscles. Sometimes, an inflammation of the pubis bone (osteitis pubis) or a femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) can cause the groin pain. However, in 15-20% of the cases an instability of the posterior wall of the groin is responsible for the pain. During exercising the lax posterior wall of the groin bulges into the inguinal canal and causes compression of the nerves. This nerve compression is causing the typical pain during sports in the groin, the so called Sportsman’s Groin. The pain has typically a stabbing, sometimes electric character and radiates from the groin down into the testicles, labia and / or the proximal thigh.

Diagnosis can be established with a careful physical examination, interdisciplinary work up, and imaging modalities (MRI, ultrasound). Once the diagnosis has been established and other causes for the pain outside the groin are excluded the treatment consists of surgical stabilization of the posterior wall of the inguinal canal. We usually perform a laparoscopic TAPP repair using a mesh. Two weeks after surgery the training can be initiated again with close cooperation of a physiotherapist.

• Physiotherapy
• Open approach: minimal-repair
• Minimally-invasive approach (TAPP, TEP)

Hospital stay: 2 days
Outpatient treatment in unilateral hernias if applicable