Brown, Rea A; Mascia, Anthony; Kinnear, Douglas G; Lacroix, Vincent; Feldman, Liane; Mulder, David S
This is a retrospective study of 98 hockey players who underwent 107 surgical explorations for refractory lower abdominal and groin pain that prevented them from playing hockey at an elite level. A total of 98 elite hockey players underwent 107 surgical groin explorations for intractable groin pain preventing their play. Each player had repair of a tear of the external oblique muscle and fascia reinforced by a Goretex mesh. The ilioinguinal nerve was resected in each patient. In all, 97 of 98 players returned to play after the surgical procedures.
Surgical exploration of the involved groin with repair of the torn external oblique muscle and division of the ilioinguinal nerve has resulted in resolution of refractory groin pain and return to play in the elite hockey player. Recent observations on dynamic ultrasound show promise in accurately diagnosing this injury.
Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 2008, 18(3), 221-226