What is FAI

Femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI, occurs when the hip is restricted in it's range of motion due to anatomical factors.  This can lead to stiffness, pain and damage to the hip joint.  This typically happens because of extra bone that has developed on the femoral head (the ball), the rim of the acetabulum (the socket), or both. As the hip bends, particularly during activities that combine deep flexion with rotation, such as squatting, pivoting, or sitting for long periods, this extra bone catches against the socket rim rather than gliding past it. Over time, this repeated impingement can damage the labrum, the ring of cartilage that lines and seals the socket, and the smooth cartilage covering the joint surfaces themselves.

 

Types of FAI

 

Cam impingement involves an abnormally shaped femoral head that isn't perfectly round, so it doesn't rotate smoothly within the socket.

 

Pincer impingement involves over-coverage of the socket, where the rim of the acetabulum extends further than it should and pinches the labrum during movement.

 

Acetabular retroversion is a form of impingement were the socket pointing more towards the buttock than usual, it is over-covered at the front of the hip, and uncovered at the back.

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Symptoms

The most common symptom is groin pain, often described as a deep ache that's worse with prolonged sitting, squatting, or twisting movements, and it may be accompanied by a sense of stiffness in the hip.

 

 

Diagnosis

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Is based on a combination of the clinical history, a physical examination that includes specific tests to reproduce the impingement, and imaging, usually an X-ray to assess bone shape and an MRI to look for labral tears or early cartilage wear.

 

 

Treatment

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Treatment willl often begin with Liam recommending activity modification, physiotherapy to improve hip strength and movement patterns, and anti-inflammatory medication.

 

When symptoms persist despite these measures, Liam will discuss surgical options,  This includes hip arthroscopy, surgical hip dislocation, periacatabular osteotomy or hip replacement depending on the type of FAI you have, your age, and the cartilage damage already present.