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Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

This is a condtion that has been recognised and understood only relatively recently. This has arisen from the observation that some patients, usually males, develop early arthritis in their hips because their hips have a somewhat aspherical shape. Quite commonly, people who have hips with this abnormal shape, start to get symptoms quite early on and a characteristic pattern of symptoms and x-ray signs are now recognised. The importance in the recognition of FAI lies in the fact that appropriate intervention before arthritis develops may well stop this from developing later in life, or at least delay the onset.
 

Symptoms of FAI

The condition usually becomes apparent in young athletic individuals who start to get pain in the groin and hip area. This is usually activity related and may become bad enough to result in them having to give up sporting activities. Frequently the conditon is considered a “groin strain” and often patients undergo courses of physiotherapy to try and address it. Usually, however, it is rather resistant to treatment with physiotherapy and pain frequently recurs.

Signs

Patients may find that certain movements of the hip have become uncomfortable. This is usually flexion of the hip up towards the chest, as in putting on shoes, and frequently there is a restriction in the amount of internal rotation of the hip.

Femoroacetabular_Impingement_1

Treatment

If symptoms cannot be managed by modification of activities, or people find that they can no longer do the activities that they wish, then surgical intervention is appropriate.
This involves a procedure known as Hip Arthroscopy (Keyhole hip surgery) to alter the shape of the femoral head and to address the damage that may have occurred to the labrum, articular cartilage or lining of the hip joint socket (acetabulum). The aim of the surgery is to improve pain and range of movement in the hip and to try and prevent or halt the progression of arthritis in the joint.