The primary aim of surgery is to correct the fit of the femoral head and acetabulum to create a hip socket that reduces contact between the two, allowing a greater range of movement. This includes femoral head sculpting and/or trimming of the acetabular rim.Surgery may be arthroscopic or open. A 2011 study analyzing current surgical methods for management of symptomatic femoral acetabular impingement, suggested that the arthroscopic method had surgical outcomes equal to or better than other methods with a lower rate of major complications when performed by experienced surgeons; consequently, the surgery is now rarely done open.Outcomes of arthroscopic surgery are currently being studied, but have generally been positive. According to a 2019 meta-analysis, the risk of having surgery fail or need to be re-operated on is about 5.5% whereas the complication rate is 1.7%. Additionally, patient reported outcomes show that approximately three to six months post-operative hip arthroscopy is when pain reduction and activities of daily life are improved. For sport function this timeline is about six months to a year. Failure of hip arthroscopy is more likely to fail in older patients, females, or those who have experienced the symptoms of FAI for a long period of time.When performed on elite athletes, most are able to return their previous level of competition. These athletes also have a higher rate of return to sport than recreational and collegiate athletes.Long term, randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of conservative and operative treatments are underway.
The third is a combination of the two, generally referred to as mixed. The most common type seen, approximately 70% of the time, is the mixed type. A complicating issue is that some of the radiographic findings of FAI have also been described in asymptomatic subjects.Current literature suggests that the cam type of impingement is associated with the development of hip osteoarthritis. Thus far, no correlation has been seen between the pincer type and development of hip osteoarthritis. Anatomy
The hip joint is classified as a ball and socket joint. This type of synovial joint allows for multidirectional movement and rotation. There are two bones that make up the hip joint and create an articulation between the femur and pelvis. This articulation connects the axial skeleton with the lower extremity. The pelvic bone, also known as the innominate bone, is formed by three bones fused together: the ilium, ischium, and pubis. The musculature of the hip is divided into anterior hip muscles and posterior hip muscles. The major nerve supply that runs through the hip joint is the femoral nerve and the sciatic nerve. Diagnosis
Clinical evaluation is the first step in diagnosis, but will rarely lead to the diagnosis on its own, due to inconsistent and vague nature of the pain. Childhood and current activity should be inquired about. Physical exam should also involve assessing passive internal rotation of the hip during flexion, as range of motion is reduced in proportion to the size of a cam lesion.