This condition is a common reason for pain in the hip joint. FAI can also cause labral tears and is one of the causes of hip osteoarthritis. In simple terms FAI is extra bone growth on either the femur, acetabulum or both resulting in an irregular shape and this causes bones rubbing against each other during hip movement. There are two principle types of impingement. In Pincer impingement extra bone forms at the acetabulum, the socket sticks out too far and the femur bumps into the rim of the socket during hip flexion. This can also cause labral tears as the labrum gets crushed. In Cam impingement the femoral head is not round and there is a bump on the edge of the femoral head. This bump can grind away the cartilage inside the acetabulum. This also commonly occurs with hip flexion and activities such as cycling or tying your shoes. Combined impingement is the combination of Pincer and Cam. FAI tends to form during growth in childhood; the reasons are not clear. Some individuals may be asymptomatic even with FAI and do not require any treatment. However, when symptoms occur treatment should be considered. Active people may experience symptoms much earlier as they stress the hip joint more than sedentary individuals. Surgery consists of trimming the extra bone either open or arthroscopic and repairing the labrum. Long-term outcome is generally good but not all damage can be completely addressed by surgery. It is then possible that more problems develop in the future.
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
Keyword: Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)