Your Important Questions Answered

There are two excellent options by which the operation can be performed:

One is local anesthesia was sedation. This means that there is an anesthesiologist that gives enough medication through the intravenous that the patient is calm. Then local anesthetic is injected into the operative site. The local anesthetic does burn initially, but it becomes effective within several seconds and then the operation can be proceed. The advantage of local anesthesia with sedation is that the patient feels no nausea or other side effects. After surgery the patient can leave the surgery center almost immediately. The local anesthetic blocks any pain for about eight hours.

Two is general anesthesia. General anesthesia involves going to sleep. The anesthesiologist gives medicine through the IV and then a tube is put in the airway to support breathing during the operation. Local anesthetic is still injected into the operative site to control postoperative pain. General anesthesia is best for patients who are very anxious and do not want to be aware of anything. There may be some feeling of being drugged after the operation.

Both general anesthesia and local and local anesthesia with sedation are very effective; both choices are good. For a redo operation general anesthesia is probably the best.

Some of his pubic hair has to be removed to provide adequate exposure. The shaving kept to a minimum.

The deep sutures are usually permanent. The sutures used to close the skin are buried underneath the skin and dissolve within a few weeks. They do not need to be removed. These suture are not visible.

The vas deferens travels through the operative field and can be easily divided during groin reconstruction. It does not increase the postoperative pain, and does not increase significantly the operative time. If you are considering a vasectomy, this is a good time to have it done.

In women the round ligament travels through the operative field. The round ligament supports the uterus. It can be left in place or divided. If it is divided then it should be sewn to the abdominal wall so that the uterus does not lose this important suspensory ligament.

Sexual activities can start any time after surgery. Try to limit sex to once a day until you feel stronger.

Women can start housekeeping right away. Men should avoid dishwashing or vacuuming for at least six weeks after surgery. :-)

There will be swelling in the groin and sometimes in the testicle after surgery. The swelling may last from four to six weeks.

Even a small amount of blood can cause a large bruise. The bruising is usually just in the groin area, but can extend into the scrotum or onto the thigh. It resolves in a few weeks.

Mesh is a synthetic material that looks like very fine fishing net. It can add strength to the groin after surgery. But the mesh can also cause significant problems. The most common problem is pain. The pain is the result of a nerve becoming adhered to the mesh or the result of the mesh become stiff from fibrosis. Thus, unless absolutely required, I do not advise the use of mesh.

Infections are extremely rare.

You can get a new hernia if you re-injure the groin. I my personal practice about 1% of the patients have required a second operation because of a new injury. In these cases I usually use mesh to help strengthen the groin.

Complications are rare.

Your best chance to find a local surgeon familiar with the treatment of a sports hernia is to contact your local professional soccer or hockey team and ask them whom they use. Dr. William Meyers at Drexel University is the most well known surgeon on the East coast. Mr. O J A Gilmore is located in London and has a world-famous reputation. Dr Muschaweck has excellent results and is located in Munich.

Athletes who come to see Dr. Brown are examined and evaluated on the first day. Surgery is scheduled for the second day. The athlete returns home on the third day.

The operation takes about forty minutes.