Overview

ATHLETIC PUBALGIA More clinically significant than inguinal hernia are tears of the aponeuroses that make up the walls of the inguinal canal In particular, tears of the external oblique fascia close to the superficial ring are thought to account for a high proportion of athletes with groin pain Focat tenderness and a palpable defect may be found

These defects are difficult to identify on MRI The fascial planes are more easily seen on ultrasound Occasionally areas of decreased reflectivity with in them indicate defects Other causes of groin pain in this context include

• tears of the inguinal ligament • enthesopathy at the attachment of the inguinal ligament to the pubic tubercle • irritation with or without entrapment of the ilioinguinal or genital nerves