{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,11]],"date-time":"2026-11-11T05:10:31Z","timestamp":1794373831215,"version":"4.9.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]],"date-time":"2025-03-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1740960000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]],"date-time":"2025-03-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1740960000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"name":"Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["International Orthopaedics (SICOT)"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,4]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>Groin pain in athletes, particularly inguinal-related groin pain, remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge despite recent consensus on terminology. This study aims to explore nerve disorders as a key contributor to groin pain in athletes, focusing on the anatomy, aetiology, diagnosis, and management options.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted, focusing on the anatomical variability of the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genital branch of the genitofemoral nerves, clinical presentations, diagnostic methods, and conservative and surgical treatments for nerve-related inguinal pain. Key studies on nerve entrapment, neuropathic and nociceptive pain mechanisms, and surgical outcomes were analyzed.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>Variability in nerve pathways and sensory overlap complicate diagnosis and management. Neuropathic pain often presents with burning or electric sensations due to nerve compression or entrapment, while nociceptive pain manifests as dull or stabbing pain. Conservative treatment, including exercise-based rehabilitation and nerve blocks, offers relief in many cases. For refractory cases, surgical treatment can provide significant pain resolution, with nerve identification and potential neurectomy improving outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>Nerve disorders play a critical role in inguinal-related groin pain in athletes. Accurate diagnosis relies on detailed clinical examination and targeted imaging. Conservative treatments are first line, but surgical interventions addressing nerve entrapment or compression are effective for persistent cases. Future research should focus on the role of collagen deficiencies, nerve histopathology, and long-term outcomes of different treatment modalities.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00264-025-06461-z","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]],"date-time":"2025-03-03T20:14:48Z","timestamp":1741032888000},"page":"845-852","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Neuropathic causes of groin pain in athletes: understanding nerve involvement"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"49","author":[{"given":"Zarko","family":"Vuckovic","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Milos","family":"Bojovic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]]},"reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"6461_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.2519\/jospt.2018.7850","volume":"48","author":"K Thorborg","year":"2018","unstructured":"Thorborg K, Reiman MP, Weir A et al (2018) Clinical examination, diagnostic imaging, and testing of athletes with groin pain: an evidence-based approach to effective management. JOSPT 48(4):239\u2013249","journal-title":"JOSPT"},{"issue":"6","key":"6461_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1304","DOI":"10.1177\/0363546516687539","volume":"45","author":"J Har\u00f8y","year":"2017","unstructured":"Har\u00f8y J, Clarsen B, Thorborg K et al (2017) Groin problems in male soccer players are more common than previously reported. Am J Sports Med 45(6):1304\u20131308","journal-title":"Am J Sports Med"},{"key":"6461_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"768","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2015-094869","volume":"49","author":"A Weir","year":"2015","unstructured":"Weir A, Brukner P, Delahunt E et al (2015) Doha agreement meeting on terminology and definitions in groin pain in athletes. Br J Sports Med 49:768\u2013774","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"key":"6461_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.1007\/s10029-011-0798-9","volume":"15","author":"S Alfieri","year":"2011","unstructured":"Alfieri S, Amid PK, Campanelli G et al (2011) International guidelines for prevention and management of post-operative chronic pain following inguinal hernia surgery. Hernia 15:239\u2013249","journal-title":"Hernia"},{"key":"6461_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1007\/s00276-009-0549-0","volume":"32","author":"A Ndiaye","year":"2010","unstructured":"Ndiaye A, Diop M, Ndoye JM et al (2010) Emergence and distribution of the ilioinguinal nerve in the inguinal region: applications to the ilioinguinal anaesthetic block (about 100 dissections). Surg Radiol Anat 32:55\u201362","journal-title":"Surg Radiol Anat"},{"key":"6461_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01635044","volume":"21","author":"K Akita","year":"1999","unstructured":"Akita K, Niga S, Yamato Y et al (1999) Anatomic basis of chronic groin pain with special reference to sports hernia. Surg Radiol Anat 21:1\u20135","journal-title":"Surg Radiol Anat"},{"issue":"1","key":"6461_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9789","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-022-13847-1","volume":"12","author":"A Serner","year":"2022","unstructured":"Serner A, Reboul G, Lichau O et al (2022) Digital body mapping of pain quality and distribution in athletes with longstanding groin pain. Sci Rep 12(1):9789. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-022-13847-1","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"6461_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e001387","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsem-2022-001387","volume":"8","author":"Z Vuckovic","year":"2022","unstructured":"Vuckovic Z, Serner A, Heijboer WMP, Weir A (2022) Inguinal related groin pain in athletes: a pathological potpourri. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 8:e001387. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjsem-2022-001387","journal-title":"BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med"},{"key":"6461_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"715","DOI":"10.1007\/s10029-017-1641-8","volume":"21","author":"R Wright","year":"2017","unstructured":"Wright R, Born DE, D\u2019Souza N et al (2017) Pain and compression neuropathy in primary inguinal hernia. Hernia 21:715\u2013722. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10029-017-1641-8","journal-title":"Hernia"},{"issue":"1","key":"6461_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1093\/jhps\/hnz068","volume":"7","author":"M Gerhardt","year":"2020","unstructured":"Gerhardt M, Josh Christiansen J, Sherman B et al (2020) Outcomes following surgical management of inguinal-related groin pain in athletes: a case series. J Hip Preserv Surg 7(1):103\u2013108. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/jhps\/hnz068","journal-title":"J Hip Preserv Surg"},{"key":"6461_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e001498","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsem-2022-001498","volume":"9","author":"WMP Heijboer","year":"2023","unstructured":"Heijboer WMP, Vuckovic Z, Weir A et al (2023) Clinical examination for athletes with inguinal-related groin pain: interexaminer reliability and prevalence of positive tests. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 9:e001498. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjsem-2022-001498","journal-title":"BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med"},{"issue":"4","key":"6461_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"364","DOI":"10.1097\/JSM.0000000000000469","volume":"28","author":"R Taylor","year":"2018","unstructured":"Taylor R, Vuckovic Z, Mosler A et al (2018) Multidisciplinary assessment of 100 athletes with groin pain using the doha agreement: high prevalence of adductor-related groin pain in conjunction with multiple causes. Clin J Sport Med 28(4):364\u2013369. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/JSM.0000000000000469","journal-title":"Clin J Sport Med"},{"issue":"3","key":"6461_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2013-092932","volume":"49","author":"P Robinson","year":"2013","unstructured":"Robinson P, Grainger AJ, Hensor EMA et al (2013) Do MRI and ultrasound of the anterior pelvis correlate with, or predict, young football players\u2019 clinical findings? A 4-year prospective study of elite academy soccer players. Br J Sports Med 49(3):176\u2013182. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bjsports-2013-092932","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"key":"6461_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1007\/s00256-010-0980-7","volume":"40","author":"H Paajanen","year":"2011","unstructured":"Paajanen H, Hermunen H, Karonen J (2011) Effect of heavy training in contact sports on MRI findings in the pubic region of asymptomatic competitive athletes compared with non-athlete controls. Skeletal Radiol 40:89\u201394. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00256-010-0980-7","journal-title":"Skeletal Radiol"},{"issue":"4","key":"6461_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"715","DOI":"10.1177\/0363546510388931","volume":"39","author":"ML Silvis","year":"2011","unstructured":"Silvis ML, Mosher TJ, Smetana BS et al (2011) High prevalence of pelvic and hip magnetic resonance imaging findings in asymptomatic collegiate and professional hockey players. Am J Sports Med 39(4):715\u2013721. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0363546510388931","journal-title":"Am J Sports Med"},{"key":"6461_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.3389\/fsurg.2018.00045","volume":"5","author":"AJ Sheen","year":"2018","unstructured":"Sheen AJ, Pilkington JJ, Dudai M, Conze JK (2018) The Vienna Statement; an Update on the Surgical Treatment of Sportsman\u2019s Groin in 2017. Front Front Surg 5:45. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fsurg.2018.00045","journal-title":"Front Front Surg"},{"key":"6461_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1079","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2013-092872","volume":"48","author":"AJ Sheen","year":"2014","unstructured":"Sheen AJ, Stephenson BM, Lloyd DM et al (2014) \u2018Treatment of the Sportsman\u2019s groin\u2019: British Hernia Society\u2019s 2014 position statement based on the Manchester Consensus Conference. Br J Sports Med 48:1079\u20131087","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"6461_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.1080\/24740527.2017.1403846","volume":"1","author":"RS Rajana","year":"2017","unstructured":"Rajana RS, Bhatiab A, Pengb PWH, Gordond AS (2017) Perineural steroid injections around ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genitofemoral nerves for treatment of chronic refractory neuropathic pain: A retrospective study. Can J Pain 1(1):216\u2013225. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/24740527.2017.1403846","journal-title":"Can J Pain"},{"issue":"8","key":"6461_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"767","DOI":"10.2147\/JPR.S86777","volume":"23","author":"D Trainor","year":"2015","unstructured":"Trainor D, Moeschler S, Pingree M et al (2015) Landmark-based versus ultrasound-guided ilioinguinal\/iliohypogastric nerve blocks in the treatment of chronic postherniorrhaphy groin pain: a retrospective study. J Pain Res 23(8):767\u2013770. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2147\/JPR.S86777","journal-title":"J Pain Res"},{"key":"6461_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"605","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpedsurg.2020.05.014","volume":"56","author":"J Markus","year":"2021","unstructured":"Markus J, Sibbing IC, Ket CFJ et al (2021) Treatment strategies for anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome in children: A systematic review. J Pediatr Surg 56:605\u2013613. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jpedsurg.2020.05.014","journal-title":"J Pediatr Surg"},{"key":"6461_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1097\/01.sle.0000136662.52454.01","volume":"14","author":"H Paajanen","year":"2004","unstructured":"Paajanen H, Syv\u00e4huoko I, Airo I (2004) Totally extraperitoneal endoscopic (TEP) treatment of sportsman\u2019s hernia. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech 14:215\u2013218","journal-title":"Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech"},{"key":"6461_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1016\/j.surg.2011.02.016","volume":"150","author":"H Paajanen","year":"2011","unstructured":"Paajanen H, Brinck T, Hermunen H, Airo I (2011) Laparoscopic surgery for chronic groin pain in athletes is more effective than nonoperative treatment: A randomized clinical trial with magnetic resonance imaging of 60 patients with sportsman\u2019s hernia (athletic pubalgia). Surgery 150:99\u2013107","journal-title":"Surgery"},{"key":"6461_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"893390","DOI":"10.3389\/fsurg.2022.893390","volume":"9","author":"P Palumbo","year":"2022","unstructured":"Palumbo P, Massimi F, Lucchese S et al (2022) Open Surgery for Sportsman\u2019s Hernia a Retrospective Study. Front Surg 9:893390. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fsurg.2022.893390","journal-title":"Front Surg"},{"key":"6461_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.1177\/1941738110367623","volume":"2","author":"U Muschaweck","year":"2010","unstructured":"Muschaweck U, Berger LM (2010) Sportsmen\u2019s groin\u2014diagnostic approach and treatment with the minimal repair technique: a single-center uncontrolled clinical review. Sports Health: Multidiscip Approach 2:216. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1941738110367623","journal-title":"Sports Health: Multidiscip Approach"},{"key":"6461_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"837","DOI":"10.1002\/bjs.11226","volume":"106","author":"AJ Sheen","year":"2019","unstructured":"Sheen AJ, Montgomery A, Simon T et al (2019) Randomized clinical trial of open suture repair versus totally extraperitoneal repair for treatment of sportsman\u2019s hernia. BJS 106:837\u2013844. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/bjs.11226","journal-title":"BJS"},{"key":"6461_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijsu.2008.02.005","volume":"6","author":"SW Nienhuijsa","year":"2008","unstructured":"Nienhuijsa SW, Rosmanb C, Strobbeb LJA et al (2008) An overview of the features influencing pain after inguinal hernia repair. Int J Surg 6:351\u2013356. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijsu.2008.02.005","journal-title":"Int J Surg"},{"key":"6461_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"577","DOI":"10.1007\/s10029-009-0582-2","volume":"13","author":"RC Read","year":"2009","unstructured":"Read RC (2009) Herniology: past, present, and future. Hernia 13:577\u2013580. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10029-009-0582-2","journal-title":"Hernia"}],"container-title":["International Orthopaedics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s00264-025-06461-z.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00264-025-06461-z\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s00264-025-06461-z.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,6]],"date-time":"2025-04-06T02:41:10Z","timestamp":1743907270000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s00264-025-06461-z"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,4]]}},"alternative-id":["6461"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00264-025-06461-z","relation":{},"ISSN":["0341-2695","1432-5195"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0341-2695","type":"print"},{"value":"1432-5195","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]]},"assertion":[{"value":"12 February 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"18 February 2025","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"3 March 2025","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Human ethics and consent to participate"}}]}}