Athletic pubalgia misdiagnosed as lumbar radiculopathy – A case report

BACKGROUND: Athletic pubalgia is a painful complex syndrome encountered by many athletes involved in sports. Multiple pathologies often coexist, and many systems can refer pain to the groin. The current case reflects the failure to distinguish pubalgia from lumbar radiculopathy. CASE DESCRIPTION: Originally, a 47-year-old male with left-sided inner thigh pain was diagnosed as having a L3-4-disc herniation and spinal stenosis; he underwent a L3-4 and L4-5 laminectomy/discectomy. For 2 years postoperatively, the pain persisted. Ultimately, he underwent surgical reinsertion of the adductor muscle and experienced immediate and sustained pain relief. CONCLUSION: This case report highlights how pubalgia may be misdiagnosed as a lumbar disc herniation and may inadvertently lead to unnecessary lumbar surgery.