Managing Groin Pain.

In brief The cause of groin pain, common in kicking sports, is obvious when a patient suffers an acute muscle strain. However, a case study involving a 16-year-old male high school athlete demonstrates how gradual-onset groin pain can open up a multitude of orthopedic and nonorthopedic diagnostic possibilities including avulsion fracture, osteitis pubis, and inguinal hernia. Muscle strains usually resolve with RICE therapy and a focused rehabilitation program. Conservative treatment is also appropriate in the initial workup of inguinal canal weakness. Surgery may be needed to repair severely torn muscles or to correct an inguinal canal defect.