Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a disorder in which abnormal connections between the hip bones cause pain, joint damage and restricted range of motion. It is caused by abnormal bone growth in the thigh bone (the femur) or hip socket (the acetabulum), leading to friction when the hips move. This friction can damage the cartilage over time and contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.
Symptoms
FAI symptoms tend to develop progressively. They entail:
Pain in the groin, especially when squatting, sitting, or pivoting
Hip stiffness after extended periods of sitting
Limited range of motion that makes activities such as jumping, running, or climbing stairs challenging
A sense of clicking or locking in the hip joint with particular movements
Discomfort during activities involving deep hip flexion or rotation
Causes
Some of the common causes and risk factors of femoroacetabular impingement involve:
Genes: Some people are born with bone features that are more likely to impinge.
Repetitive motions: Activities involving deep hip flexions, such as dancing, football, and hockey, can lead to FAI.
Prior hip traumas: FAI can occur as a result of abnormal bone repair following hip fractures or other traumas.
Developmental conditions: Abnormal bone growth and subsequent impingement can result from conditions such as slipping capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) during childhood.
Diagnosis
At The Joint Pain Clinic, we often diagnose femoroacetabular impingement by combining clinical evaluation and imaging studies.
Physical examination: A physician will assess your range of motion, look for pain patterns and perform certain tests, such as the impingement test, which replicates symptoms by rotating and flexing the hip.
X-rays: Doctors frequently use X-rays to evaluate bone form, and identify any structural irregularities.
MRI scans: MRI imaging can show soft tissue injuries linked to FAI, such as labral tears and cartilage degeneration.
CT scans: For pre-operative planning, CT scans can occasionally be recommended to obtain detailed pictures of bone structure.
Treatment Options
Our treatment options for femoroacetabular impingement comprise convectional and surgical methods. They entail:
Activity adjustment: Cutting back on activities like rotating motions and deep hip flexion that make symptoms worse.
Physiotherapy: Involves exercises to increase flexibility, strengthen the hip muscles and adjust movement patterns.
Pain management: Rest and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help lessen discomfort and inflammation.
Ultrasound-guided cortisone injections: By relieving joint pain and inflammation, targeted cortisone injections can help with chronic symptoms.
Surgical intervention: Arthroscopic surgery might be necessary to realign the bones and fix injured tissues in extreme situations.
