Professor David Lloyd – Surgery for Groin Pain – The Lloyd Release Procedure

The Injury Rehab Network event with BASRaT, taking place on 8th November 2023, features a presentation from Professor David Lloyd (MBBS, FRCS, PhD). David will be discussing surgery for groin pain. Taking place online on Wednesday, 8th November 2023, from 7 pm – 8 pm. Click here for the post event blog and recording.

Professor David Lloyd (MBBS, FRCS, PhD)

Professor David Lloyd is Professor of Hepatobiliary, Laparoscopic and Groin Surgery at the University of Leicester, UK. He trained as a liver transplant surgeon in London, Chicago and Hamburg and has pioneered many laparoscopic procedures and developed a microwave machine to treat liver cancer, which is now being used all around the world.

He has a special interest in groin surgery and groin anatomy and has described a new third type of inguinal hernia, which challenges the current definition of only having two. He has also developed a new procedure for the treatment of groin pain known as the Lloyd Release Procedure, which releases the tension in the inguinal ligament and strengthens the groin. This procedure has proven successful for elite athletes and is beneficial for the treatment of some patients with chronic groin pain, particularly those who have undergone previous open mesh repair of an inguinal hernia.

He has an international practice attracting elite athletes from around the world. He has operated on many elite rugby players, including Shane Williams and Stuart Lancaster, and hundreds of elite football players. Glen Murray, Michael Carrick, Peter Crouch, and Scott McTominay from Manchester United have all had the Lloyd Release Procedure. It was Jamie Vardy’s successful operation which focussed the sporting world. Professor Lloyd operated on Jamie Vardy in the middle of the 2015-6 season when he scored 11 goals in 11 successive games. Jamie then helped Leicester City win the Premier League. The Lloyd Release Procedure was hailed as a success, and Professor Lloyd now has an international practice.

Surgery for Groin Pain – The Lloyd Release Procedure

Approximately 5% of athletes will suffer from groin strain during their sporting career. Most of whom will recover with conservative treatment and physiotherapy. However, some will require specialist surgery, particularly those with high-impact sports such as football and rugby.

Most clinicians agree that there is a weakness in the groin which needs to be strengthened either by open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Professor Lloyd believes that many athletes develop a strain or a repetitive injury to the inguinal ligament at the attachment to the pubic tubercle, which causes increased tension and pain. If the ligament and tension are released and the groin reinforced with a soft mesh, then most athletes can return to their sport within weeks.

International guidelines suggest that all groin hernias should be treated laparoscopically and not by open surgery. Therefore, if there is a weakness or small hernia, then these athletes should have a mesh repair performed laparoscopically and not undergo open surgery. The Lloyd Release Procedure is performed laparoscopically, releases the tension in the inguinal ligament and reinforces the whole groin area with a mesh.

Over 90% of professional athletes return to sport within four weeks. Professor Lloyd believes that vague terminologies such as sports hernia, sportsman’s groin and Gilmore’s groin should be abandoned and replaced with more anatomical terms such as inguinal ligament disruption, adductor tendinopathy, and posterior inguinal wall weakness.

Post event blog and recording

• Date – Wednesday 8th November 2023
• Time – 7 pm – 8 pm
• Cost – Free
• Location – Online (Zoom)
• Post event blog and recording – click here

The next event of the Injury Rehab Network

The next event of the Injury Rehab Network, in partnership with BASRaT, will take place online on Wednesday, 8th November 2023, from 7 pm – 8 pm. Anyone professionally involved with or studying sports medicine, performance and rehabilitation from injury is welcome to attend. Click here for the post event blog and recording.

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