FAI Hip Impingement Treatment: Relieve Hip Pain & Restore Mobility
What Is Femoracetabular Impingement / FAI Hip Impingement?
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a painful condition where bony irregularities caused by excessive friction in the hip joint, decrease the hip’s range of hip motion.
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) can occur to the articular cartilage (the smooth white surface of the ball or socket) or the labral tissue (the lining of the edge of the socket).
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) impingement generally occurs as two forms:
- Cam impingement is when the femoral head and neck are not perfectly round, most commonly due to excess bone, which causes abnormal contact between the surfaces.
- Pincer impingement is when the socket or acetabulum rim has overgrown, resulting in the labral cartilage being pinched. The Pincer form of impingement may also be caused when the hip socket is abnormally angled backward, causing abnormal impact between the femoral head and the rim of the acetabulum.
The symptoms of the Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) can include the following:
- Pain, which may be described as a dull ache or sharp pain
- Pain in the inner hip or groin area after prolonged sitting or walking
- Groin pain associated with hip activity
- Complaints of pain in the front, side or back of the hip
- Pain in the buttocks or outer thigh area
- A locking, clicking or catching sensation in the hip
- Difficulty in walking uphill
- Restricted hip movement
- Low back pain
The risk factors for developing Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) may include the following:
- Athletes such as football players, weightlifters, and hockey players
- Workers engaged in heavy labor
- Repetitive hip flexion
- Congenital hip dislocation
- Anatomical abnormalities of the femoral head or angle of the hip
- Legg-Calves-Perthes disease: a form of arthritis in children where blood supply to the bone is impaired causing bone breakdown
- Trauma to the hip
- Inflammatory arthritis
What Are the Treatment Options for Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)?
The non-surgical treatment options for Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) may offer pain relief and improved mobility, but probably won’t treat the underlying issues. These non-surgical treatment measures include:
- Rest
- Activity modification and limitations
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy
- Injection of steroid and analgesic into the hip joint
The surgical treatment for Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) includes hip arthroscopy, which is indicated when non-surgical treatment measures fail to provide relief.
Don’t let Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) cause you pain or disrupt your quality of life. See how Orthopedic Institute of North Texas has solutions to relieve your pain and improve your quality of life.