Hip and groin injuries are common in athletes participating in high level sports. Adductor muscle tendon injuries represent a small but important number of these injuries. Avulsion injuries involving tendons attaching to the symphysis pubis have previously been described and can be managed both operatively and non-operatively. The aim is to describe a rare variant of this injury; complete avulsion of the adductor sleeve complex including adductor longus, pectineus and rectus abdominus. A surgical technique is then outlined which promotes a full return to pre-injury level of sporting activity. Fifteen high level athletes with an MRI confirmed acute adductor complex avulsion injury (6–34 days) were identified from the institution's sports injury database over a 10 year period. All underwent surgical repair. The operative procedure comprised anatomical attachment of the avulsed tissues in all cases (plus mesh reinforcement of the inguinal wall in 7 patients). All underwent a standard format of rehabilitation which was then individualised to be sport specific.Introduction
Patients/Materials & Methods