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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
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Transtubular Endoscopic Posterolateral Decompression for L5-S1 Lumbar Lateral Disc Herniation
Published on: October 14, 2022
Lumbar disc degeneration induces persistent groin pain
Yasuhiro Oikawa1, Seiji Ohtori, Takana Koshi
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan.
Spine
|January 29, 2011
Summary
Discogenic groin pain can occur without low back pain. Diagnostic methods include imaging, discography, and anesthetic blocks, with surgery offering significant relief.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pain Medicine
- Spinal Surgery
Background:
- Discogenic disease is a common cause of low back pain.
- Lumbar intervertebral discs are innervated, potentially referring pain to the groin (L2 dermatome).
- Human referred groin pain from discogenic disease remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of discogenic groin pain without low back pain.
- To investigate the origin of groin pain in patients with lumbar disc degeneration.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 5 patients with isolated groin pain and single-level disc degeneration (L4-L5 or L5-S1).
- Exclusion of hip joint abnormalities via imaging.
- Diagnostic evaluation included hip joint lidocaine infiltration, provocative discography, and anesthetic discoblock.
- Treatment involved anterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery.
Main Results:
- Patients showed no relief from hip joint blocks but experienced pain provocation on discography and relief from anesthetic discoblock.
- All patients achieved bony union 1 year after surgery.
- Significant improvement in visual analogue scale scores for groin pain was observed post-surgery.
Conclusions:
- Discogenic groin pain can be diagnosed using a combination of MRI, hip joint blocks, discography, anesthetic discoblock, and lumbar surgery.
- Consider discogenic groin pain in patients presenting with groin pain but no low back pain.
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