Operative management of "hockey groin syndrome": 12 years of experience inNational Hockey League players

Background. At the elite level of hockey, groin injuries can threaten a pla yer's career. The aim of this review is to describe the clinical presentati on and evaluate our operative approach to "hockey groin syndrome "in Nation al Hockey League (NHL) players. Methods. Between November 1989 and June 2000, 22 NHL players with debilitat ing groin pain underwent operative exploration. A repair, including ablatio n of the ilioinguinal nerve and reinforcement of the external oblique apone urosis with a Goretex (W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc, Flagstaff, Ariz) mesh, was performed. Medical records were reviewed, and the players or their trai ners were contacted by telephone after a mean follow-up period of 31.2 mont hs to assess function, symptoms, and overall satisfaction. Results. All patients had tearing of the external oblique aponeurosis, with branches of the ilioinguinal nerve emerging from the torn areas. At follow -up, 18 players (82%) had no pain, whereas 4 (18%) reported mild, intermitt ent pain. All 22 patients returned to playing hockey, with 19 (85%) able to continue their careers in the NHL. Conclusions. The "hockey groin syndrome," marked by tearing of the external oblique aponeurosis and entrapment of the ilioinguinal nerve, is a cause o f groin pain in professional hockey players. Ilioinguinal nerve ablation an d reinforcement of the external oblique aponeurosis successfully treats thi s incapacitating entity.