Sport’s hernia

What is sport’s hernia?

Sports hernia, or athletic pubalgia, is a condition that occurs mainly in people who play sports. This condition does not necessarily appear in the classic form of a hernia, i.e. as a swelling in the inguinal region. In fact, it is a “hidden” hernia, which is created due to the weakening of the back wall of the inguinal canal.
Sports hernia occurs more often in male professional athletes. However, it can also occur in young people, regardless of gender, who have intense daily physical activity.
General Surgeon Pericles Chrysocheris has extensive experience and expertise in the treatment of all hernias of the abdominal region (inguinal hernia, femoral hernia, etc.).
Sensitive to the needs of every professional athlete as well as their anxiety for their immediate return to their professional sports activities, Dr. Chrysocheris carries out the latest treatments for sports hernia. Contact him and get rid of the disrupting symptoms quickly and permanently.

What cause sports hernia?

The ever-increasing demands of modern sports, combined with intense exertion, have led to the perpetuation of the condition. Acute or chronic injury during sports is responsible for sports hernia. The acute injury is caused in the area of the adductor muscles after a sudden movement during sports. Also, the repetition of the same movements over time is responsible for the occurrence of chronic pain.

What are the symptoms of a sports hernia?

When a sports hernia is caused by an acute injury, severe pain occurs immediately in the inguinal region. The pain becomes milder when the patient rests, but immediately returns during sports activities. In particular, movements such as turning and extending the hip affect the intensity of the pain even more.
Additionally, the pain may worsen with coughing, sneezing, and during sexual intercourse. Another characteristic symptom of the condition is the reflection of pain in the area of the adductor muscles, in the perineum, but also in the testicles. The major difference between a sports hernia and other hernias is that it does not cause a visible bulge.

How is the diagnosis made?

To diagnose a sports hernia, an experienced physician with excellent knowledge of the complex anatomy of the area is required. The doctor gets the full medical history and carries out a detailed clinical examination of the patient. Essentially, the diagnosis is made by ruling out other causes that could be responsible for the pain in the area.
Sometimes, in order to confirm the diagnosis, appropriate imaging tests are carried out, such as:
• Ultrasound
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

What is the treatment for sports hernia?

When conservative treatment fails or if the hernia recurs upon return to sports activities, surgical treatment is necessary.
The most modern treatment techniques for sports hernia are minimally invasive Robotic or Laparoscopic reconstruction. These techniques guarantee the full recovery of the patients and their rapid return to sports activities.
Robotic or laparoscopic hernia repair with extraperitoneal access (e-TEP) takes about 40 to 50 minutes.
Laparoscopic access is carried out along with mesh placement through three incisions a few millimeters wide. In cases where the problem is bilateral, both sides are repaired using the same incisions on one side.
• The advantages of Robotic-Laparoscopic reconstruction are summarized below:
• Short duration of surgery
• Less blood loss, compared to the open method
• Limiting hospital stay, lasting from just a few hours to a day
• Reduced postoperative pain
• Better cosmetic result, due to the absence of scars
• Immediate return to everyday life
• Faster return to athletic activities