Groin pain - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

The groin is the anatomical region that coincides with the flexion fold between the thigh and the abdomen.

Pain referred to the inguinal region is usually a consequence of hip pain (coxalgia due to osteoarthritis, arthritis, trauma or fractures) or an insertional tendinopathy (pubalgia). Sometimes, however, this symptom originates from the incarceration of a hernia through a breach of the abdominal wall, an event that represents a surgical emergency.

Muscular or skeletal disorders

A pain felt in the groin may indicate a pathology affecting the hip joint, such as a contracture, a stretch or a traumatic dislocation.

Pain referred to the hip, groin, gluteal region, thigh and medial aspect of the knee frequently indicates the presence of coxarthrosis. This condition is characterized by a degenerative process that affects the hip joint, causing the gradual disappearance of the layer of cartilage that covers the femoral head and the cup. From this results first a chronic pain in the hip and a joint limitation, then the progressive deformation of the affected limb which leads to an impairment of the movement.

Another cause of groin pain is groin (or adductor syndrome), which is the inflammation that affects the proximal insertion point of the adductor muscles of the thigh. Generally, the inflammatory process is caused by a repeated mechanical stress of the muscles, of the thigh that causes a microtrauma to the insertion of the tendons of the adductors. For this reason, pubalgia is frequent in those who practice sports at a professional level.

Disorders that occur with groin pain also include a hip fracture, osteochondrosis of the femur, piriformis syndrome and compression (or injury) of the nerve roots in the lumbar region.