Sports hernia injuries can sideline even the most dedicated athletes, causing persistent groin pain that doesn't respond to conventional treatments. When conservative approaches fail to provide relief, surgical intervention becomes a viable path back to peak performance. Dr. Nguyen specializes in advanced surgical techniques that address not just the symptoms, but the underlying structural damage that causes sports hernias.
With a philosophy centered on complete repair rather than temporary fixes, our approach focuses on restoring function while minimizing recovery time. Understanding your surgical options is the first step toward making an informed decision about your treatment and your return to an active lifestyle.
Surgical Approaches
When conservative treatment fails, surgical intervention offers athletes a path to recovery. Dr. Nguyen provides two proven techniques, each with distinct advantages, though he specializes in the open procedure for its comprehensive approach to tissue repair.
Open Procedure
The open procedure allows direct access to damaged tissues, enabling complete visualization of affected muscles, nerves, and tendons. This approach facilitates precise repair without mesh implantation, minimizing long-term complications and promoting natural healing of the body's own tissues.
Laparoscopic Procedure
The laparoscopic approach utilizes small incisions and specialized instruments to repair the injury with mesh reinforcement. This minimally invasive technique often results in smaller scars and can be appropriate in specific cases, though it may not address all components of complex sports hernias.
Recovery and Results
Following sports hernia surgery, most patients experience progressive improvement over 8-12 weeks. The initial pain subsides significantly within days of the procedure, and athletes typically begin a graduated rehabilitation program designed to safely rebuild strength and restore full mobility before returning to competitive activities.
Pain Relief and Improved Mobility
Graduated Return to Athletic Activities
Strengthened Core Musculature
Prevention of Re-injury Through Proper Technique
Restoration of Pre-injury Performance Levels
Adjunctive Surgical Solutions
In some cases, sports hernia repair may require complementary surgical interventions to address related injuries and ensure complete recovery.
Adductor Longus Tendon Repair
The adductor longus tendon often becomes involved in sports hernia injuries due to the muscle imbalance between stronger adductor muscles and weaker oblique muscles. When this tendon is damaged, it may fail to heal naturally due to its poor blood supply and narrow attachment to the pubic bone. Surgical release and reattachment can effectively eliminate chronic pain while maintaining strength and improving range of motion.
Ilioinguinal Neurectomy
Sports hernia injuries can cause the ilioinguinal nerve to become entrapped and painful when tears in the oblique muscles allow the spermatic cord to prolapse through the defect. During surgery, Dr. Nguyen carefully evaluates this nerve and may perform a release or neurectomy if necessary. While this procedure may result in some areas of numbness, it can provide significant pain relief for patients with nerve entrapment symptoms.
Osteitis Pubis Treatment
Some athletes develop osteitis pubis—inflammation of the pubic symphysis joint—due to improper coordination between oblique and adductor muscles. This condition causes chronic pain above the pubic bone that worsens with exercise. When present alongside sports hernia, release of the adductor longus tendon may be recommended to decrease shear forces across the joint and promote healing of both conditions simultaneously.