Inguinal Hernia Repair but No Hernia Present: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION

Groin hernia repair can relieve pain from conditions other than groin hernias, such as "sports groin." The aim of this study was to assess the nationwide frequency of surgically treated sports groins and identify conditions found during groin hernia surgery with no hernia present.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this nationwide cohort study, we included patients with no hernia found during groin hernia repair. Patients were identified in the nationwide Danish Hernia Database. Outcomes were assessed from medical and surgical records. Medical history, preoperative examinations, and operative details were extracted.

RESULTS

Data from 259 patients were included. Of these, 152 (58%) were considered to have a sports groin. A weak posterior inguinal wall was identified in 41 sports groins, a wide profound inguinal ring in 10, and no specific anatomic pathology was described in the remaining patients with a sports groin. A lipoma was found in addition to a sports groin in 60 patients. Findings in patients without a sports groin were predominantly lipomas, and less frequent findings were a cyst and hydrocele.

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of the patients were assessed to have a sports groin. Frequent findings that co-existed with a sports groin were weak posterior inguinal wall and/or lipoma.