A Sports Hernia Repair Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

A sports hernia injury is a debilitating, painful injury. It occurs when the oblique muscles of the core are torn, usually through a twisting or lifting motion during activities like hockey and dance. A sports hernia differs from a regular hernia because there is no hole made through the inguinal wall, therefore it doesn’t produce a visible bulge. Unfortunately, this can make a diagnosis extremely difficult and treatment courses confusing for physicians with little experience.

Sometimes after suffering a sports hernia injury, it can feel hopeless that someday you might be able to compete at the same level as before. Today’s surgical techniques, however, make full recovery a reality. While surgery can seem like an extreme choice over say physical therapy, a sports hernia repair surgery is actually a fairly simple procedure when performed by an experienced surgeon who can get you back out there sooner than you may think.

Even though surgery is a safe and reliable option, there will always be some concern around getting a procedure. It’s important before undergoing any surgery to understand each step in the operation, and to have a working knowledge of the injury itself.

Dr. Brown uses a type of sports hernia repair technique known as an open operation. During this procedure, an incision is made to expose the injured area, allowing him to see the full extent of damage. With a sports hernia, it’s often not just the muscles that are torn. The surrounding tissue may be affected as well. The open operation allows for a full evaluation of the injury and ultimately leads to the most effective repair.

One other type of sports hernia repair surgery, known as a laparoscopic operation, is available. This technique involves inserting a large piece of plastic mesh to repair the abdominal wall, but does not examine the surrounding muscles and tendons. This oversight often leads to the injury not being fully repaired and recovery is negatively impacted. In addition, the inserted mesh can cause issues and it is not easily removed should a problem arise. Overall, the open operation provides many more benefits and less risk to the patient.

In this gallery below, taken during an operation performed by Dr. Brown, a male patient is undergoing a sports hernia repair surgery on his left side. After beginning the procedure, it was determined that the patient not only had suffered a typical sports hernia injury, but also had damaged his inguinal canal. Dr. Brown was able to repair this defect as well as repair the sports hernia. From the picture, it’s easy to see that the areas affected by a sports hernia injury is full of complex muscle systems that work together. This is yet another reason why the open operation that Dr. Brown utilizes is superior.

Below is a gallery of images showing a female patient undergoing a sports hernia repair surgery on her right side, the opposite of the procedure above. However, the procedure is very similar. This time, the sports hernia injury itself is pictured, and Dr. Brown can be seen repairing the injury. He has already reattached the inferior or lower part of the injury, and is now finishing up by firmly securing the superior or more external section of the tear. At this point, the damage caused by the sports hernia is almost completely repaired.

Sports hernias can seem like frustrating and mysterious injuries, as they are difficult to diagnose. However, with an experienced surgeon and the right technique, surgery can be a smart choice. The knowledge gained by seeing a sports hernia repair surgery in action is, like the saying goes, worth a thousand words.