This study evaluates the efficacy of adductor longus
tenotomy in athletes with chronic
tendinopathy refractory to
conservative management. In a retrospective case series we report our experience with 109 male athletes who underwent unilateral adductor
tenotomy during the period 2000-2005, all of whom responded to a detailed questionnaire. The criterion for
tenotomy was chronic adductor origin
pain which prevented training or playing (Level 4), limited training or playing (Level 3), or affected performance (Level 2)and which had failed to respond to
conservative management including rest, rehabilitation and/or local
steroid injection. Level 1 performance is classified as optimal performance with no
pain. 99 of the 109 patients (91%) reported improvement. Best results were achieved in patients with maximum discomfort preoperatively (Level 4) with 32 of 38 (84%) patients returning to Level 1 performance. In conclusion, adductor
tenotomy in athletes with severely incapacitating
pain (Level 3/4) which fails to respond to
conservative management offers the best opportunity of returning to competitive sport.