David Mulder

Expertise montréalaise

Pascale Breton

La Presse

Quebec Hockey tradition is not only reflected on the ice. About 20 NHL players are operated on in Montreal during the off-season. All these players suffer from abdominal injuries or lower stomach injuries. In the medical jargon, it is called the Hockey Groin Syndrom. This injury is becoming more and more common, often caused by body checks, getting hit by a stick or repetitive slap shots. The ilioinguinal nerve becomes irrated to the point that players have difficulty skating.

For approximately 15 years, the Canadiens Doctor, Dr. Mulder and his team have developed an expertise in the treatment of this injury. Summer is an attractive time to get customers. The players do not want to miss games even at the risk of playing injured. " For the most part, players can wait until summer season. They receive cortisone injections before each game even though it is painful. After the season is over, we operate on them" Dr. Mulder explained from his small office on the fourth floor of the Montreal General Hospital.

The surgeon cuts the ilioinguinal lengthwise about 6 centimeters and removes it. He affixes a gortex type material. As with Philadelphia, Montréal is one of the rare locations in North America that this expertise has been developed..

"It is not my idea", said Dr. Mulder. In the late 1980's A european Doctor initiated this type of treatment for soccer players who also suffer this type of injury, but nobody would believe it. Claude Lemieux, who was playing for the Candiens in 1986 to 1990, was Dr. Mulder's first guinea pig. Lemieux complained of lower stomach pain as soon as he put his skates on, but Doctors could not find any injury. People were wondering if he was faking the pain. " One day he was feeling really bad, so I froze the ilioinguinal nerve. He had no more pain. He could skate and shoot easily" recalls Dr. Mulder. The specialist convinced his surgical colleague, Dr Rea Brown, to operate on the player. Since then,the surgical tandem of Mulder-Brown have operated on about 100 NHL players.

Claude Lemieux now refers patients. " I was a pioneer in this type of treatment. Today, when a player says he has a problem, they give him treatments right away. If the treatments don't work, they operate." said Lemieux from his home in Pheonix where he is the president of the Roadrunners in the East Coast League.

Last summer, as soon as the playoffs were completed, approximately 20 players converged on Montreal  during a period of 3-4 weeks for this surgery. Each one spent a day or two in the City, to have the surgery done in private clinics. 

" We rent space in private clinics, because the waiting list at hospitals is too long. The players can't wait if they want to ready for the following season" said Dr. Mulder.

They leave for the four corners of Canada and the United States with a rehab program in their pockets. Less than 10 weeks later they are ready to jump on the ice.

This type of injury is on the rise. At the McGill University Sports Clinic, a study is taking place on hockey players. We have a special camera that studies the movements of players when they are shooting. We are trying to understand how to prevent this type of injury.", said Dr. Mulder. Besides Hockey players, this injury also affects football, volleyball and soccer plalyer, even boxers.