Groin pain in athletes may be due to muscle strains, referral of pain from internal
organs, and/or hernia. This study includes ten elite level hockey players unable to
continue their careers due to groin pain. These patients did not present with the
typical causes described above, including hernia. They were explored surgically and
were found to have tears in the floor of the inguinal ring which were repaired either
directly or with a synthetic mesh reinforcement (seven cases). All the patients have
subsequently returned to hockey. Because these patients presented with symptoms similar
to hernia, but did not have a hernia at the time of surgical exploration, they were
considered to have a condition previously described as "sportsman's hernia".
Sportsman's hernia - hernia - groin - inguinal
