Multidisciplinary Assessment of 100 Athletes With Groin Pain Using the Doha Agreement: High Prevalence of Adductor-Related Groin Pain in Conjunction With Multiple Causes.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the prevalence of different causes of groin pain in athletes using the recent Doha consensus classification of terminology and definitions of groin pain in athletes.

DESIGN

Descriptive epidemiological study.

SETTING

Multidisciplinary sports groin pain clinic at Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar.

PATIENTS

The clinical records of 100 consecutive athletes with complaints of groin pain who attended the multidisciplinary sports groin pain clinic between January and December 2014 were analyzed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The causes of groin pain were categorized according to terminology and definitions agreed upon at the Doha consensus meeting on groin pain classification in athletes. The classification system has 3 main subheadings; defined clinical entities for groin pain (adductor-related, iliopsoas-related, inguinal-related, and pubic-related groin pain), hip-related groin pain, and other causes of groin pain in athletes.

RESULTS

The majority of athletes were male (98%) soccer players (60%). Multiple causes for groin pain were found in 44% of the athletes. Adductor-related groin pain was the most prevalent defined clinical entity (61% of athletes), and pubic-related groin pain was the least prevalent (4% of athletes).

CONCLUSIONS

Adductor-related groin pain is the most commonly occurring clinical entity in this athlete population in mainly kicking and change of direction sports and frequently, multiple causes are found.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This is the first study to use the Doha agreement classification system and highlights the prevalence of adductor-related groin pain and that often multiple clinical entities contribute to an athlete's groin pain. Consequently, prevention programs should be implemented with these factors in mind.