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Successful endoscopic treatment of chronic groin pain in athletes

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Room Z-836, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015, GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    R. N. van Veen, G. Kazemier, B. J. Punt & C. H. J. van Eijck

  2. Department of Orthopaedics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Room Z-836, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015, GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    P. de Baat & M. P. Heijboer

  3. Department of Radiology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Room Z-836, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015, GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    R. S. Dwarkasing

  4. Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

    H. J. Bonjer

Authors
  1. R. N. van Veen
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  2. P. de Baat
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  3. M. P. Heijboer
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  8. C. H. J. van Eijck
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Correspondence to R. N. van Veen.

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van Veen, R.N., de Baat, P., Heijboer, M.P. et al. Successful endoscopic treatment of chronic groin pain in athletes. Surg Endosc 21, 189–193 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-005-0781-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-005-0781-6

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