Femoral Acetabular Impingement (FAI) & Labral Tear of the Hip
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Femoral Acetabular Impingement (FAI) & Labral Tear of the Hip
There are many causes of joint pain, and hip impingement or Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) is the most common. FAI causes physical symptoms such as pain and limited range of motion in the hip joint. Hip impingement syndrome occurs when the ball portion of the hip (femoral head) does not properly fit within the socket, which is an acetabulum located at the center of the pelvis.
WHAT IS FEMOROACETABULAR IMPINGEMENT?
Femoroacetabular impingement, also known as FAI, is a condition that occurs when excess bone growth in and around the hip joint causes pain and damage to soft tissues such as cartilage and ligaments. The femoral head, which sits at the top of your thigh bone or femur, doesn’t make smooth contact with either side of your hip socket, resulting in impingement. The bone grows into areas where it shouldn’t be, causing pain and swelling.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
The main symptom of FAI is pain, though it can vary from patient to patient. The location and character of your pain will depend on which structures are affected.
Common Symptoms of Impingement:
- Anterior hip pain
- Gluteal tenderness
- Inability to perform squats without severe discomfort
- Posterior hip or groin pain
TREATMENT
The way you treat hip impingement will depend on your FAI grade and where it is located. If you are in a lot of pain or affecting your hip movement, your doctor might recommend surgery to help alleviate these symptoms. Typically, surgery involves removing damaged parts of bone or cartilage from your joint and placing implants where needed.
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