A Quick Guide to Femoroacetabular Impingement

Also known as hip impingement, femoroacetabular impingement is a condition characterized by an abnormally shaped hip joint. In other words, FAI causes bones in the hip joint to rub against each other while causing pain and damage to the cartilage and labrum. In this condition, either the femoral head or the acetabulum is in abnormal shape. This post will talk about femoroacetabular impingement in detail including the symptoms, causes, and treatment.

Our hip joint is a type of ball and socket synovial joint. It is involved in various day-to-day activities. Any injury to the hip joint makes it difficult for the person to move or even perform routine activities. Severe injuries to the joint may need surgical intervention. FAI is one such condition that affects the hip joint badly. Let us talk more about the condition.

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What Causes Femoroacetabular Impingement?

FAI is a condition that is usually present at birth, but it may also develop in the later stages of life. In people with hip impingement, the abnormality may be seen at the ball portion or the socket (acetabulum) of the hip joint. Such abnormalities cause friction with movement and over time surrounding cartilage and labrum get damaged. If we talk about the causes, then there may be one of three causes:

Cam – This is where bony growth occurs at the femoral head and causes problems with the movement of the hip joint. It may occur because of physical activity.

Pincer – Unlike cam, bony growth in this situation occurs in the acetabulum (hip socket). The child development stage is where this condition develops.

Combination – When both the above-mentioned conditions arise together (cam & pincer), it is a type of combined FAI.

Physically active people are more likely to experience FAI earlier than people who are not much physically active. However, exercising is not known to cause FAI in most cases.

What Are the Symptoms of Femoroacetabular Impingement?

It is not necessary that everyone suffering from FAI will experience symptoms. They generally occur when the condition makes the damage to the hip joint worse. Here are some of the signs that the person suffering from FAI may experience:

• Hip pain (becomes worse while doing activities and improves with rest)
• Limping
• Stiffness in the hip

What is the Diagnosis for Femoroacetabular Impingement?

A timely diagnosis of FAI is a must to prevent severe damage to the hip joint. It requires several tests along with questions about family history and activity levels. The tests performed may include:

• Imaging tests like x-ray and MRI
• Impingement test
• Injecting a numbing medicine in the hip joint to identify if it relieves pain
• Physical examination

What Are the Treatments for FAI?

The treatment of the condition varies according to the person and the severity of the condition. Here are some of the treatment options for the condition:

• Corticosteroid injection
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Physical therapy
• Rest
• Surgery – Arthroscopy or traditional hip surgery

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