Differential Diagnosis for Right Groin Pain after Fall

• Single most likely diagnosis
  • Muscle strain: This is the most common injury from a fall, and the groin area is prone to strains due to the muscle groups involved in movement and stability.
• Other Likely diagnoses
  • Hip fracture: A fall can cause a fracture, especially in older adults or those with osteoporosis, and groin pain can be a presenting symptom.
  • Hematoma or contusion: Direct trauma from the fall can cause bleeding into the soft tissues, leading to a hematoma or contusion in the groin area.
  • Pubic ramus fracture: A fall onto the hip or a direct blow can cause a fracture of the pubic ramus, which can present with groin pain.
• Do Not Miss diagnoses
  • Femoral artery or vein injury: Although less common, a severe fall could potentially injure the femoral vessels, leading to severe bleeding or thrombosis, which are medical emergencies.
  • Hip dislocation: A severe fall can cause the hip to dislocate, and while this is less common, it requires immediate medical attention to avoid long-term damage.
  • Testicular torsion (in males): If the fall causes testicular torsion, it is a surgical emergency that needs to be addressed promptly to save the testicle.
• Rare diagnoses
  • Osteonecrosis of the femoral head: A fall can cause a traumatic injury to the hip, potentially leading to osteonecrosis, although this is a less immediate concern and might develop over time.
  • Stress fracture: Repeated stress or a single traumatic event like a fall can cause a stress fracture in the bones of the pelvis or femur, which might not be immediately apparent.
  • Nerve injury: Direct trauma from the fall could potentially injure nerves in the groin area, such as the femoral nerve or ilioinguinal nerve, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness.