A complete approach to groin pain.

Focused history questions and physical exam maneuvers are especially important with groin pain because symptoms can arise from any of numerous causes, sports related or not. Questions for the patient should attempt to rule out systemic symptoms and clarify the pain pattern. Some of the most possible causes of groin pain include stress fracture of the femoral neck or pubic ramus, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, acetabular labral tears, iliopectineal bursitis, avulsion fracture, osteitis pubis, strain of the thigh muscles or rectus abdominis, inguinal hernia, ilioinguinal neuralgia, and the 'sports hernia.' Depending on the diagnosis, conservative treatment is often effective.