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Adductor tenotomy: its role in the management of sports-related chronic groin pain

  • Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Patients and methods

Chronic adductor-related groin pain in athletes is debilitating and is often challenging to treat. Little is published on the surgical treatment when conservative measures fail. This single center study reviews the outcomes of 48 patients (68 groins) who underwent percutaneous adductor tenotomy for sports-related chronic groin pain. Questionnaire assessments were made preoperatively and at a minimum follow-up of 25 months.

Results

Mean pre-injury Tegner activity scores of 8.8 reduced to 6.1 post-injury and these improved to 7.7 following surgery (p < 0.001). Sixty percent of patients regained or bettered their pre-injury Tegner activity scores after the adductor surgery; however, mean post-surgical Tegner scores still remained lower than pre-injury scores (p < 0.001). No patient had been able to engage in their chosen sport at their full ability pre-operatively, and 40% had been unable to participate in any sporting activity. The mean return to sports was at 18.5 weeks postoperatively, with 54% returning to their pre-injury activity levels, and only 8% still unable to perform athletic activities at latest follow-up. Seventy-three percent patients rated the outcome of their surgery as excellent or very satisfactory, and only three patients would not have wished to undergo the procedure again if symptoms recurred or developed on the opposite side. No patients reported their outcome as worse. A 78.1% mean improvement in function and an 86.5% mean improvement in pain were reported, and these two measures showed statistically significant correlation (p = 0.01). Groin disability scores improved from a mean of 11.8 to 3.9, post-operatively (p < 0.001). Bruising was seen in 37% of procedures, 3 patients developed a scrotal hematoma and 1 patient had a superficial wound infection. One patient developed recurrent symptoms following re-injury 26 months post-surgery, and fully recovered following a further adductor tenotomy.

Conclusions

Adductor tenotomy provides good symptomatic and functional improvement in chronic adductor-related groin pain refractory to conservative treatment.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Professor Nikola Kocev PhD, Institute for Medical Statistics and Computing, Belgrade University, Serbia, for his assistance with the statistical analyses.

Conflict of interest statement

No competing interest or funding declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, University College London Medical School, North Middlesex University Hospital, Sterling Way, London, N18 1QX, UK

    Henry Dushan E. Atkinson & Benan Dala-Ali

  2. Sportsmed SA, 32 Payneham Road, Stepney, Adelaide, SA, 5069, Australia

    Henry Dushan E. Atkinson, Parminder Johal, Mark S. Falworth, Vijai S. Ranawat & David K. Martin

  3. 9 Sutcliffe Close, London, NW11 6NT, UK

    Henry Dushan E. Atkinson

Authors
  1. Henry Dushan E. Atkinson
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  2. Parminder Johal
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  3. Mark S. Falworth
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  4. Vijai S. Ranawat
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  5. Benan Dala-Ali
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  6. David K. Martin
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Correspondence to Henry Dushan E. Atkinson.

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Atkinson, H.D.E., Johal, P., Falworth, M.S. et al. Adductor tenotomy: its role in the management of sports-related chronic groin pain. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 130, 965–970 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-009-1032-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-009-1032-4

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