LAPAROSCOPIC AND CONVENTIONAL REPAIR OF GROIN DISRUPTION IN SPORTSMEN

Background Musculotendinous groin disruption is common in professional sportsmen. Diagnosis is difficult and management complicated by stron g desires for early return to sporting activity. The possible role of laparoscopic repair in promoting early recovery was examined. Methods A series of patients with persistent pain that prevented sport for mor e than 3 months were treated surgically. Thirty repairs were performed on 28 prayers, 18 professional and nine amateur. Seventeen injuries w ere sustained playing rugby league, seven association football and fou r other sports. There were 14 conventional repairs (11 Lichtenstein) a nd 14 laparoscopic (two bilateral). All patients were discharged withi n 24 h. Results No player complained of severe postoperative pain. Sev en of 14 patients who had laparoscopic repair denied experiencing any pain at all. Training was resumed within 4 weeks for nine of 14 patien ts who had a conventional repair and 13 of 14 who underwent laparoscop ic repair. Full contact training restarted at a median 5 (range 1-6) w eeks for conventional and 3 (range 1-9) weeks for laparoscopic repair (P < 0.05). Two players had persistent neuralgia after laparoscopic re pair which settled by 2 months. One player had recurrent pain 5 months after laparoscopic repair, and one had a recurrent hernia 22 months a fter conventional repair. There were no wound problems. Conclusion Lap aroscopic repair appears as effective as conventional repair for sport ing injuries, and merits further evaluation as a technique to permit e arly return to activity.