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Downloaded from http://bjsm.bmj.com/ on June 18, 2017 - Published by group.bmj.com Brit J. Sports Med. - Vol. 16, No. 2, June 1982, p. 101 101 WRONG DIAGNOSIS IN ATHLETES A. J. BANKS, MSc, FRCS* and P. D. MALIMSON, FRCSt *Boton Royal Infirmary tPark Hospital, Davyhulme, Manchester INTRODUCTION High performance athletes are prone to a wide variety of acute and chronic soft-tissue problems. A common complaint is of pain in the groin which in some instances can be severe enough to curtail further sporting activities. Most cases are due to soft-tissue injuries such as adductor, psoas and rectus femoris strains (Renstrom and Peterson, 1980). Some cases of groin strain can be due to other causes such as hip joint lesions, nerve entrapment syndromes and herniae. Three cases of painful herniae are reported in athletes who sought medical advice following failure of prolonged physiotherapy. In all cases physiotherapy was instituted on a self-referral basis and in no instance did the symptoms resolve. CASE 1 A twenty year old female high jumper presented with a nine month history of pain in the left groin. She had received private physiotherapy treatment for nine months which included ultrasonics, massage and a variety of exercises. She proved to have a small indirect inguinal hernia. Following surgical repair she was able to return to her sport three months post operatively. CASE 2 A 26 year old male badminton player presented with a four month history of pain in the left groin. He had received three months treatment through private physiotherapy. Following repair of the hernia he was able to return to his game three months post operatively. CASE 3 A 25 year old male squash player presented after having had private physiotherapy for four months for what he termed a "groin strain". This proved to be an indirect inguinal hernia. Following treatment he was able to return to his sport three months post operatively. COMMENT Over the last few years there has been an upsurge in the interest in the treatment of sporting injuries resulting in a proliferation of so called sports medicine or sports injuries clinics. In addition the private sector physiotherapists have become involved. Lack of sympathy by many general practitioners (understandably in many cases) together with long waiting lists in orthopaedic departments drives the frustrated sportsman into the private fringe medicine sector. This can be an expensive procedure both financially and in terms of time lost from sporting interest. For example the sum spent by Case 1 would have covered the cost of a private medical consultant together with the operating fee. While not wishing to under-estimate the value and skill of many chartered physiotherapists, we feel it important that sportsmen should seek medical advice at some stage during the course of treatment, especially after a prolonged period, when symptoms have remained unchanged. Since completion of this report four more similar cases have been encountered. REFERENCE Renstrom, P. and Peterson, L., 1980 "Groin injuries in athletes". Brit.J.Sports Med. 14: 30. Downloaded from http://bjsm.bmj.com/ on June 18, 2017 - Published by group.bmj.com Wrong diagnosis in athletes. A. J. Banks and P. D. Malimson Br J Sports Med 1982 16: 101 doi: 10.1136/bjsm.16.2.101 Updated information and services can be found at: http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/16/2/101.citation These include: Email alerting service Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article. Notes To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/