Abstract

A prospective study was initiated to evaluate the surgical treatment of chronic groin pain resistant to conservative treatment. Forty-one patients were treated using Bassini's hernial repair and percutaneous adductor longus tenotomy between 1984 and 1998. All patients were males aged 17 to 34 years and were mainly soccer players. Twenty-seven patients underwent a unilateral and 14 a bilateral procedure. All patients had resumed their sporting activities on average 6.9 months after surgery (range 6 to 15 months). Thirty-seven performed at the same level and 4 at a reduced level. Only one patient performed at a lower level due to persistent groin pain. We conclude that, when conservative treatment for pubic pain in athletes fails, a combination of hernial surgery and adductor longus tenotomy can provide successful results.