Sports Hernias: Symptoms and When to Consider Minimally Invasive Surgery
Sports hernias, also known as athletic pubalgia, or "core muscle injury," are commonly regarded to not represent true hernias, but rather a laxity or tear of tendon at or near the pubic bone. They are symptomatic of pain affecting the soft tissue of the groin and lower abdomen, are mostly common among athletes who engage in regular activities, but can be suffered by anyone, especially those prone to twisting motions or sudden changes of direction. Unlike a traditional hernia, sports hernias do not result in a visible bulge of muscle or tendon tear, and pain can be resolved with noninvasive treatments if diagnosed early and care begins quickly.
Treatment of a sports hernia begins with rest, pain control, and physical therapy. However, sometimes the core muscle tear does not heal with this conservative approach. The failure to heal the core muscle tear may be due to a true hernia that is present but cannot be detected. When this happens, a robotic inguinal hernia repair may be considered.
"Robotic mesh repair of pelvic floor weakness/inguinal hernia for an otherwise non-healing core muscle injury has shown clinical promise, as measured by improved pain and quicker return to activity. The repair of the hernia and placement of a mesh in the pelvis allows inflammation in the area to subside, allowing the core muscle to heal," said Dr. Ryan Fahy, a general surgeon with McLaren Bay Region.
When compared with the traditional, open approaches, robotic-assisted surgery significantly enhances a procedure's precision, resulting in smaller incisions, reduced scarring, less soft tissue disruption, and post-operative pain, leading to a patient's quicker overall recovery and return to activity.
"Patients may have been hesitant to opt for surgery, and that's completely understandable," Dr. Fahy said. "They may be reminded of how it used to be, with significant incision scars and prolonged pain during recovery. That simply is not the case with today's surgical procedures."
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