The incidence and differential diagnosis of acute groin injuries in male soccer players

This prospective cohort study evaluated the incidence of acute groin injuri es and estimated the distribution of differential diagnoses in male soccer players. Two senior male soccer divisions (21 teams, 326 players) were foll owed for 1 year. Patients with groin injuries were examined clinically as w ell as by herniography, sonography and by plain x-lay of the pelvic bones. Groin injuries accounted for 8% of all injuries. The incidence of groin inj ury was 0.8/1000 h of exposure. Thirteen (52%) of the 25 patients were clin ically considered to have a muscle/tendon injury. However, when using sonog raphy, muscle/tendon injury was only verified in 1 patient. Clinical suspic ion of hernia or incipient hernia was evident in 4 (16%) of the patients, w hile 14 (56%) had a pathological finding at herniography. Clinical and para clinical (i.e. diagnostic methods using imaging and other advanced techniqu es) diagnoses do not correspond very well in acute groin injury.