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کولہے کی امپنجمنٹ (femoroacetabular impingement)

Updated Sep 2026
Illustration: hip

اس صفحے کا ترجمہ مشین سے کیا گیا ہے اور ابھی تک کسی ڈاکٹر نے اس کی جانچ نہیں کی۔ انگریزی نسخہ ہی مستند ہے۔

آپ کو کیا محسوس ہوتا ہے

کولہے کی امپنجمنٹ (hip impingement، کولہے کے جوڑ میں ہڈیوں کا آپس میں ٹکرانا) کا درد عام طور پر ران کی جڑ (groin) سے شروع ہوتا ہے، اور اکثر کسی ایک واضح چوٹ کے بعد آنے کے بجائے آہستہ آہستہ بڑھتا ہے۔ کبھی کبھی یہ کسی معمولی ٹکر یا مروڑ کے بعد شروع ہوتا ہے۔ یہ عموماً سرگرمی سے بھڑکتا ہے، اور کوئی بھی ایسی حرکت جو کولہے کو سینے کی طرف اوپر موڑے اسے بدتر بنا دیتی ہے۔ دیر تک بیٹھے رہنا ایک عام وجہ ہے، اس لیے گاڑی کے سفر، میز پر لمبی میٹنگیں یا فلم دیکھنا آپ کو دکھن میں مبتلا کر سکتا ہے۔ ورزش بھی اسے شروع کر سکتی ہے، خاص طور پر دوڑنا یا ایسے کھیل جن میں تیزی سے سمت بدلنی پڑتی ہے۔

روزمرہ کی حرکتیں مشکل ہو سکتی ہیں۔ موزے اور جوتے پہننے میں درد ہو سکتا ہے۔ نیچی کرسی سے اٹھنا، سیڑھیاں چڑھنا، یا پیچھے کسی چیز تک پہنچنے کے لیے گھومنا تکلیف دہ ہو سکتا ہے۔ کچھ لوگوں کو کولہے میں گہرائی میں اٹکنے یا کلک کا احساس ہوتا ہے، جو اس وقت ہوتا ہے جب جوڑ کی سطحوں یا لیبرم (labrum)، یعنی کولہے کے ساکٹ کے گرد کارٹلیج کا حلقہ، میں جلن (irritation) پیدا ہو جائے۔ درد کولہے کے پہلو کی طرف، ران کے اندرونی حصے میں، اور کبھی کبھار نیچے گھٹنے کی طرف پھیل سکتا ہے۔

بہت سے لوگوں کو شروع میں درد کے بجائے اکڑاؤ محسوس ہوتا ہے۔ ہو سکتا ہے آپ کو اپنے کولہے کو اندر کی طرف گھمانے میں مشکل ہو، یا لگے کہ ایک کولہا دوسرے جتنی آسانی سے حرکت نہیں کرتا۔ ہلکی سی لنگڑاہٹ ظاہر ہو سکتی ہے، جو اکثر اتنی معمولی ہوتی ہے کہ آپ سے پہلے دوسرے اسے نوٹ کر لیتے ہیں۔ سرگرمی کے بعد یا کچھ دیر ساکن بیٹھنے کے بعد علامات بدتر ہو سکتی ہیں۔

یہ جاننا مفید ہے کہ شروع میں اس مسئلے کی اکثر تشخیص نہیں ہو پاتی، اور ران کی جڑ کے درد کو کبھی کبھی کسی اور چیز کا نتیجہ سمجھ لیا جاتا ہے۔ اگر آپ ایک متحرک نوجوان یا کم عمر بالغ ہیں اور آپ کو کولہے یا ران کی جڑ میں ایسا درد ہے جو ٹھیک نہیں ہو رہا، تو کولہے کا معائنہ کروانا مناسب ہے۔ آپ کے سرجن پوری تصویر دیکھیں گے: آپ کی علامات، معائنے میں آپ کا کولہا کیسے حرکت کرتا ہے، اور اسکین، کیونکہ کوئی ایک علامت یا نتیجہ اکیلے امپنجمنٹ کی تصدیق نہیں کرتا۔

دراصل کیا ہو رہا ہے

آپ کا کولہا گولے اور پیالے (ball-and-socket) والا جوڑ ہے۔ گولا آپ کی ران کی ہڈی کا اوپری سرا ہے، اور ساکٹ آپ کے کولہے کی ہڈی (pelvis) میں ایک پیالہ ہے۔ ساکٹ کے کنارے کے گرد لیبرم ہوتا ہے، کارٹلیج کا ایک حلقہ جو گیسکٹ (سیل کرنے والی انگوٹھی) کی طرح کام کرتا ہے، جوڑ کو بند رکھتا ہے اور سیال کو اندر روکے رکھتا ہے۔

امپنجمنٹ کا مطلب ہے کہ عام حرکت کے دوران گولا اور ساکٹ کا کنارا ایک دوسرے کو دباتے ہیں۔ ایسا ہڈیوں کی بناوٹ میں چھوٹی تبدیلیوں کی وجہ سے ہوتا ہے۔ عام طور پر کوئی بڑی بات نہیں ہوتی، بس اس جگہ ایک ابھار ہوتا ہے جہاں گولا اپنی گردن سے ملتا ہے، یا ایسا ساکٹ جو گولے کا ضرورت سے تھوڑا زیادہ حصہ ڈھانپتا ہے۔ جب آپ اپنا کولہا سینے کی طرف اوپر موڑتے ہیں تو یہ دونوں حصے جتنی جلدی ملنے چاہییں اس سے پہلے مل جاتے ہیں، اور لیبرم اور جوڑ کی سطح ان کے درمیان دب جاتے ہیں۔

اس کی دو بنیادی شکلیں ہیں۔ کیم امپنجمنٹ (cam impingement) گولے کی طرف سے ہوتی ہے: ران کی ہڈی کا سر پوری طرح گول نہیں ہوتا، اس لیے ساکٹ میں گھومتے ہوئے وہ ساکٹ کی اندرونی سطح کے کارٹلیج کو رگڑ کر چھیلتا ہے۔ پنسر امپنجمنٹ (pincer impingement) ساکٹ کی طرف سے ہوتی ہے: کنارا معمول سے زیادہ باہر نکلا ہوتا ہے اور لیبرم کو دونوں ہڈیوں کے درمیان دباتا ہے۔ زیادہ تر لوگوں میں دونوں کا کچھ کچھ حصہ ہوتا ہے۔ وقت کے ساتھ یہ بار بار کا دباؤ لیبرم کو ریشہ ریشہ کر سکتا ہے یا پھاڑ سکتا ہے، اور جوڑ کی سطحوں کو ڈھانپنے والا چکنا کارٹلیج (cartilage)، یعنی جوڑ میں ہڈیوں کے سروں پر چکنی، لچکدار تہہ، نیچے کی ہڈی سے اکھڑنا شروع ہو سکتا ہے۔ اگر کچھ نہ کیا جائے تو یہ گھساؤ آخرکار کولہے میں جوڑ کے گھسنے والے آرتھرائٹس (osteoarthritis) کا باعث بن سکتا ہے۔

یہ جاننا مفید ہے کہ بہت سے لوگوں میں بناوٹ کی یہ چھوٹی تبدیلیاں ہوتی ہیں اور انہیں کبھی کچھ محسوس نہیں ہوتا۔ صرف بناوٹ اس وقت تک مسئلہ پیدا نہیں کرتی جب تک کولہے میں درد شروع نہ ہو۔ اسی لیے آپ کے سرجن یہ طے کرنے سے پہلے کہ کیا ہو رہا ہے، صرف آپ کے اسکین نہیں بلکہ آپ کی علامات اور معائنہ بھی دیکھتے ہیں۔

ہم اس کے لیے کیا کر سکتے ہیں

کولہے کی امپنجمنٹ والے زیادہ تر لوگوں کے لیے علاج کا پہلا قدم سرجری نہیں ہوتا۔ ہم عام طور پر آپریشن کے بغیر علاج سے شروع کرتے ہیں: آپ کے حرکت کرنے اور ٹریننگ کے طریقے میں تبدیلی، اور فزیوتھراپی کا ایک کورس۔ فزیوتھراپی کا مقصد آپ کی علامات کو کم کرنا، جوڑ کی کارکردگی کو بہتر بنانا، اور کولہے کے آس پاس طاقت بڑھانا ہے۔ اس میں اکثر ان سرگرمیوں کو کم کرنا شامل ہوتا ہے جو کولہے کو دبنے والی حالت میں لے جاتی ہیں، جیسے گہرائی تک اکڑوں بیٹھنا (deep squat)، لمبا قدم آگے رکھ کر جھکنا (lunge)، سائیکل چلانا اور رکاوٹیں پھلانگنا۔ آپ کے پروگرام میں غالباً ایسی ورزشیں شامل ہوں گی جو سرین کے پٹھوں کو مضبوط کریں اور آپ کو ان حرکتوں پر قابو رکھنا سکھائیں جو کولہے پر زیادہ بوجھ ڈالتی ہیں۔ کولہے کے اگلے حصے کی سختی کا بھی علاج کیا جاتا ہے، کیونکہ یہ آپ کے کولہے کی ہڈی کو جھکا سکتی ہے اور دباؤ جلد شروع کر سکتی ہے۔ کچھ لوگوں کو جوڑ کے آس پاس کے اکڑے ہوئے حصوں کو ڈھیلا کرنے کے لیے ہاتھ سے کیے جانے والے علاج سے بھی فائدہ ہوتا ہے۔ اسے پورا موقع دیں: سرجری پر غور کرنے سے پہلے فزیوتھراپی کا مکمل کورس، عام طور پر کم از کم 3 ماہ، متوقع ہے۔ پھٹے ہوئے لیبرم والے بہت سے لوگ کم از کم 1 سال کے غیر جراحی علاج کے بعد بہتر ہو جاتے ہیں۔

درد کش دوا اور سوزش کم کرنے والی گولیاں (ان کے ایک عام گروپ کو نان اسٹیرائیڈل اینٹی انفلیمیٹری دوائیں (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) کہتے ہیں) بحالی کے دوران آپ کو متحرک رہنے میں مدد دے سکتی ہیں۔ کولہے کے جوڑ میں انجکشن ایک اور راستہ ہے۔ ہائیلورونک ایسڈ (hyaluronic acid) ایک چکنائی دینے والا سیال ہے جو ہلکی امپنجمنٹ میں درد کم کر سکتا ہے اور کارکردگی بہتر کر سکتا ہے۔ پلیٹلیٹ رچ پلازما (platelet-rich plasma)، جو آپ کے اپنے خون سے تیار کیا جاتا ہے، کولہے کی امپنجمنٹ کی سرجری کے بعد نتائج کو بہتر بناتا ہوا ثابت نہیں ہوا۔

سرجری اس وقت زیر غور آتی ہے جب کولہے کا درد کم از کم 3 ماہ سے جاری ہو، کھیل یا روزمرہ زندگی میں رکاوٹ بن رہا ہو، اور فزیوتھراپی، سرگرمی میں تبدیلی، سوزش کم کرنے والی دواؤں یا انجکشن سے ٹھیک نہ ہوا ہو۔ یہ آپریشن کولہے کی آرتھروسکوپی (دوربین سے جوڑ کے اندر دیکھ کر علاج) ہے، یعنی چھوٹے چیروں کے ذریعے دوربین سے آپریشن (keyhole)، جس میں ہم ران کی ہڈی کے ابھار کو نئی شکل دیتے ہیں یا ساکٹ کے باہر نکلے ہوئے کنارے کو تراشتے ہیں، اور اگر لیبرم پھٹا ہو تو اس کی مرمت کرتے ہیں۔ ہم آپ سے بات کریں گے کہ آیا یہ آپ کے لیے موزوں ہے، اور سرجری کے بارے میں کوئی بھی فیصلہ ہم آپ کے ساتھ مل کر کریں گے۔

کیا توقع رکھیں

علاج کے بغیر کولہے کی امپنجمنٹ کی علامات وقت کے ساتھ غالباً بدتر ہوں گی۔ علاج سے بہت سے لوگ بہتر ہو جاتے ہیں۔ اس مسئلے کے لیے کولہے کی آرتھروسکوپی (دوربین سے آپریشن) کی تمام تحقیقات میں یہ پایا گیا کہ سرجری کے 2 سال یا اس سے زیادہ عرصے بعد مریضوں نے اپنے کولہے کو پہلے سے بہتر قرار دیا۔ تقریباً آدھے مریضوں نے 12 ماہ پر ایسا نتیجہ حاصل کیا جسے انہوں نے بہت اچھا کہا، اس لیے سرجری بہت سے لوگوں کی مدد کرتی ہے، اگرچہ ہر کسی کا کولہا مکمل طور پر درد سے پاک نہیں ہوتا۔

وقت اہم ہے۔ جن لوگوں میں سرجری سے پہلے 2 سال یا اس سے زیادہ عرصے سے علامات موجود ہوں ان کے نتائج عموماً ان لوگوں سے کم اچھے ہوتے ہیں جن کا علاج جلد ہو جائے۔ نوعمروں میں، علامات کتنے عرصے سے موجود ہیں، اس سے بظاہر نتیجے پر فرق نہیں پڑتا۔

کچھ ایماندارانہ احتیاطی باتیں ہیں۔ فی الحال یہ معلوم نہیں کہ امپنجمنٹ کا علاج کولہے میں جوڑ کے گھسنے والے آرتھرائٹس کو روکتا ہے یا نہیں، اور اس بات کا کوئی ثبوت نہیں کہ یہ اس خطرے کو بدلتا ہے۔ اسکینوں میں یہ بھی نظر آتا ہے کہ یہ سرجری کروانے والے کچھ لوگوں میں وقت کے ساتھ آرتھرائٹس بڑھتا ہے۔ دوسرا کولہا بھی اہم ہے: امپنجمنٹ والے ہر چار میں سے تقریباً ایک شخص کو دوسرے کولہے میں بھی علامات ہوتی ہیں، اور جو کولہے شروع میں علامات کے بغیر ہوتے ہیں ان میں سے 16 فیصد میں اگلے برسوں میں علامات پیدا ہو جاتی ہیں۔ لمبے عرصے میں تقریباً آدھے لوگوں کو آخرکار دوسرے کولہے میں نمایاں علامات ہو جاتی ہیں، جبکہ تقریباً آدھے آرام سے یا تقریباً آرام سے رہتے ہیں۔

اگر دونوں کولہوں کی سرجری کی ضرورت ہو تو وہ ایک ہی وقت میں یا الگ الگ مرحلوں میں کی جا سکتی ہیں۔ دونوں طریقوں سے علامات میں آرام آتا ہے اور کولہے کی کارکردگی بہتر ہوتی ہے، اور دونوں ایک ساتھ کرنے سے پیچیدگیاں، آپریشن کے بعد کا درد یا درد کش دواؤں کا استعمال نہیں بڑھتا۔

بہت سے لوگوں میں نتائج لمبے عرصے تک برقرار رہتے ہیں، جن میں تھوڑے کم گہرے ساکٹ (کولہے کی ڈسپلیزیا کی ہلکی شکل) والے لوگ بھی شامل ہیں، جن میں 91 فیصد کولہے 10 سال یا اس سے زیادہ عرصے تک مزید سرجری سے بچے رہے۔ کھلاڑی، بشمول مقابلوں میں حصہ لینے والے زیادہ عمر کے کھلاڑی، دوسرے مریضوں جیسے ہی نتائج بتاتے ہیں اور زیادہ تر اپنی سرگرمیوں پر واپس آ جاتے ہیں۔

ڈاکٹر کو کب دکھائیں

اگر آپ کو ران کی جڑ میں ایسا درد ہو جو سرگرمی کے ساتھ بار بار لوٹ آتا ہو، یا بیٹھنے، گاڑی چلانے، یا موزے اور جوتے پہننے پر ایسا درد ہو جو ٹھیک نہ ہو رہا ہو، تو اپنے فیملی ڈاکٹر (GP) سے ملیں۔ اگر آپ کا کولہا اکڑا ہوا محسوس ہو، اٹکتا ہو یا اس میں کلک کی آواز آتی ہو، اگر ایک کولہا دوسرے جتنی آسانی سے حرکت نہ کرتا ہو، یا آپ کو لنگڑاہٹ محسوس ہو، تو ماہر ڈاکٹر سے معائنہ کروانے کا کہیں۔ یہ سب سے زیادہ اہم کولہے یا ران کی جڑ میں درد والے متحرک نوجوانوں اور کم عمر بالغوں کے لیے ہے، کیونکہ شروع میں اس مسئلے کی اکثر تشخیص نہیں ہو پاتی اور تشخیص میں تاخیر عام ہے۔ اگر ایک کولہا متاثر ہو تو دوسری طرف پر بھی نظر رکھیں: ہر چار میں سے تقریباً ایک شخص کو دوسرے کولہے میں علامات ہو جاتی ہیں، اور برسوں میں تقریباً آدھے لوگوں کو۔ دیر کے بجائے جلد معائنہ کروانا فائدہ مند ہے، کیونکہ بغیر علاج کے چھوڑی گئی علامات وقت کے ساتھ بدتر ہوتی جاتی ہیں، اور جب علامات 2 سال سے کم عرصے سے موجود ہوں تو سرجری کے بعد نتائج بہتر ہوتے ہیں۔


Evidence & references

This is the clinical evidence summary written for health professionals. It is technical, and it lists the research this page was built from. You do not need to read it to understand your treatment or to make a decision about it.

Anatomy & Pathophysiology

Definitions and Classification

  • Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is defined as a dynamic mechanical conflict between the proximal femur and the acetabulum [9].
  • Intra-articular FAI occurs when the femoral head-neck junction abuts against the acetabular rim [9].
  • Extra-articular FAI occurs due to conflicts between the lesser trochanter and ischium, greater trochanter and supra-acetabular region, or femoral neck and anterior-inferior iliac spine [9].
  • Three types of FAI are recognized: cam, pincer, and combined cam/pincer [2].
  • Combined cam/pincer deformities are common [2].
  • Cam impingement is characterized by femoral-based abnormalities such as an aspherical femoral head, reduced head-neck offset, or femoral retroversion [2].
  • Pincer impingement is characterized by acetabular-based disorders such as acetabular retroversion, global overcoverage, or acetabular protrusio [2].
  • Cam impingement is most common in young males [5].
  • Pincer impingement is most common in middle-aged females [5].

Cam Impingement Pathophysiology

  • In cam impingement, the aspherical femoral head creates a shearing force along the acetabular cartilage during hip flexion [5].
  • This shearing force results in articular cartilage delamination [5].
  • Cam impingement may also result in avulsion of the labrum [5].
  • The typical injury pattern with cam impingement is a tear at the base of the labrum at the labral-chondral junction [10].
  • In cam impingement, the acetabular labrum is relatively spared compared to the adjacent articular cartilage [10].
  • Cam deformity is typically located anterolateral on the femoral neck [5].

Pincer Impingement Pathophysiology

  • Pincer impingement results from acetabular overcoverage causing abnormal contact between the acetabular rim and the femoral head-neck junction [5].
  • Pincer impingement causes intrasubstance tears of the labrum, typically in the anterosuperior quadrant [5].
  • In pincer impingement, the anterosuperior femoral head is levered against the acetabular rim [5].
  • A contrecoup cartilage lesion may occur in the posteroinferior acetabulum due to levering of the femoral neck on the acetabular rim [5].
  • In pincer impingement, the labrum suffers more damage than the adjacent articular cartilage, which is relatively spared [10].
  • Pincer impingement may worsen over time due to reactive bone growth at the acetabular rim or calcification of the labrum [10].

Etiology and Development

  • The origin of cam deformities is controversial and has been the focus of investigations [9].
  • Cam deformity can be secondary to pediatric hip diseases including slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) [9].
  • Idiopathic cam deformity is suggested to be the most common acquired hip deformity in adolescents [9].
  • Intense physical activity during adolescence may cause mechanical overloading across the epiphyseal plate, leading to increased epiphyseal extension [9].
  • Increased epiphyseal extension can broaden the head-neck junction, flattening the physiological convexity or creating a convex cam morphology [9].
  • A 2.8 relative risk of cam deformity in the siblings of affected individuals suggests genetic contributions [18].
  • Cam deformity is more prevalent in adolescents who practice impact physical activities such as basketball, hockey, and soccer [9].
  • Studies of young athletes demonstrate a lack of cam deformity in skeletally immature individuals but a presence after physeal closure [18].
  • A cross-sectional MRI study found that abnormal alpha angles were not present in any hips with open physes, but 14% of hips with closed physes had cam deformities [10].
  • Daily activity levels for patients with cam deformities are significantly higher than for those without deformity [10].

Prevalence in Asymptomatic Populations

  • The prevalence of FAIS deformity in asymptomatic adults is estimated at approximately 14%, with 24% in males and 5% in females [18].
  • Males are three to five times more likely to have cam deformities than females [18].
  • Cam deformity is more likely to be bilateral in males than in females [18].
  • A review of 473 CT scans showed that 40% of asymptomatic hips had radiographic findings associated with FAI [16].
  • In asymptomatic adolescents, the rate of cam deformity (α angle ≥55°) was 16.8%, pincer deformity (lateral center edge angle ≥40°) was 32.4%, and mixed-type deformity was 6.1% [16].
  • Cam morphology is substantially more common in males, while pincer deformities are equally distributed among males and females [16].
  • More than 90% of asymptomatic adolescents have at least one radiographic parameter suggesting FAI, and 50% have two [5].
  • The prevalence of coxa profunda is the same in asymptomatic patients as in those with diagnosed FAI [5].

Progression to Osteoarthritis

  • FAI is recognized as a common cause of hip dysfunction and secondary osteoarthritis [2].
  • In patients under 50 years of age undergoing total hip replacement for osteoarthritis, 97% had radiographic signs of cam, pincer, or mixed type impingement after excluding developmental dysplasia, SCFE, and Perthes disease [10].
  • A cam deformity with an alpha angle of more than 60 degrees had an adjusted odds ratio of 3.67 for development of end-stage osteoarthritis [10].
  • An alpha angle of more than 83 degrees had an adjusted odds ratio of 9.66 for development of end-stage osteoarthritis [10].
  • In a 20-year longitudinal study of 1003 women, each degree increase in the alpha angle over 65 degrees was associated with a 5% increase in the risk of developing osteoarthritis [10].
  • In a comparison of hips undergoing total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis to nonarthritic hips, 20% of arthritic hips had evidence of acetabular retroversion, compared to 5% of asymptomatic hips [10].
  • Deep acetabular sockets had an adjusted risk ratio of 2.4 for the development of osteoarthritis in the Copenhagen Osteoarthritis Study [10].
  • Chondrolabral damage occurs in asymptomatic patients with FAI and progresses within five years in those younger than 20 years [22].
  • Chondrolabral damage develops within five years in patients treated with in situ pinning for SCFE, as the acquired deformity causes cam-type impingement [22].

Extra-Articular Impingement

  • Subspine impingement is an extra-articular form of impingement occurring between the femoral head-neck junction and a prominent anterior-inferior iliac spine (AIIS) [17].
  • The prevalence of subspine impingement is reported to be 23.7% [17].
  • Three variants of AIIS morphology are described: type I (smooth ilium wall), type II (AIIS prominence extends to or above acetabular rim), and type III (AIIS extends distally to acetabular rim) [17].
  • Pathologic AIIS morphology can be developmental (types I and II) or arise following pelvic osteotomy or prior rectus femoris injury/avulsion (type III) [17].
  • Ischiofemoral impingement occurs between the lesser trochanter and the ischium [17].
  • Trochanteric-pelvic impingement occurs between the greater trochanter and the ilium [17].
  • Intra-articular steroid injection typically provides no relief or only partial relief of symptomatic extra-articular impingement [17].

Classification

  • Three types of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) are recognized: cam, pincer, and combined cam/pincer [2].
  • Cam impingement is characterized by femoral-based abnormalities, including an aspherical femoral head, reduced head-neck offset, and femoral retroversion or relative retroversion [2].
  • Cam impingement results in repetitive abutment of the acetabular rim and the femoral head-neck junction [2].
  • Pincer impingement is characterized by acetabular-based disorders, including acetabular retroversion, global overcoverage, and acetabular protrusio [2].
  • Pincer impingement creates abnormal abutment of the acetabular rim and the femoral head-neck junction [2].
  • Combined cam/pincer deformities are common in patients with FAI [2].
  • Subspinal impingement morphology is a frequent finding in patients with symptomatic FAI evaluated by computed tomography [24].
  • A decrease in femoral anteversion is considered a useful criterion to suspect subspinal impingement morphology [24].

Clinical Presentation

History and Symptoms

  • Patients with symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) frequently present with activity-related groin pain that is exacerbated by hip flexion activities [2].
  • Patients may report difficulty with prolonged sitting, walking, running, or pivoting [2].
  • The onset of symptoms is often insidious or follows minor trauma [2].
  • Patients may complain of pain with sitting, driving, or putting on socks and shoes [7].
  • Mechanical symptoms secondary to labral and articular cartilage disease are common in symptomatic FAI [2].
  • Most patients with symptomatic impingement present with activity-related groin pain [4].
  • Active adolescents and young adults who report hip and/or groin pain should be assessed for FAI syndrome (FAIS) [4].

Physical Examination

  • A mild, intermittent limp is common in patients with FAI, occurring in up to 75% of patients [23].
  • Abductor weakness on the affected side is often seen with a positive Trendelenburg sign [23].
  • Restricted hip motion is a defining feature of symptomatic FAIS [4].
  • Affected individuals often have less than 100° of straight flexion and less than 10° of internal rotation with the hip at 90° of flexion [23].
  • Bilateral disease is seen in approximately 75% of patients, but is symptomatic in fewer than 25% [23].
  • Patients with FAI will exhibit restricted hip internal rotation in 90° of flexion [2].
  • The anterior impingement test (flexion, adduction, internal rotation) elicits pain in the anterior groin and is present in most patients (88%) with symptomatic FAIS [23].
  • The anterior impingement test is not specific for FAI and may be positive in any patient with a labral or chondral injury [23].
  • The subspine impingement test involves maximal anterior groin pain with direct hip flexion beyond 90° while maintaining neutral rotation and abduction [23].
  • Intra-articular anesthetic injection can be used to diagnose FAI; substantial or complete relief signifies an intra-articular source of pathology [23].
  • Little to no pain relief following intra-articular injection warrants assessment for extra-articular sources of impingement or other pelvic or lumbar pathology [23].

Imaging and Diagnostic Findings

  • The AP pelvis view is used to assess acetabular anatomy, including version, acetabular coverage, and femoral head sphericity [2].
  • Lateral views, most commonly the 45° Dunn view and frog-leg lateral, are used to assess femoral head sphericity and head-neck offset [2].
  • MRI or magnetic resonance arthrography provides information regarding the integrity of the acetabular labrum and articular cartilage [2].
  • Low-dose CT with three-dimensional reformats is particularly useful in surgical planning of complex or borderline deformities [2].
  • A "pistol-grip deformity," demonstrating a nonspherical femoral head, is seen in cam impingement [5].
  • A crossover sign, where the anterior wall crosses lateral to the posterior wall, is classically seen with acetabular retroversion that causes pincer impingement [5].
  • An alpha angle of more than 50 degrees is typical in hips with loss of sphericity [7].
  • The prevalence of coxa profunda has been demonstrated to be the same in asymptomatic patients as in those with diagnosed FAI [5].
  • There is a high rate of false-positive radiographic findings for FAI [5].

Investigations

Clinical Presentation and History

  • Most patients with symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) present with activity-related groin pain that is exacerbated by hip flexion activities [2].
  • Patients with symptomatic FAI frequently report difficulty with prolonged sitting, walking, running, or pivoting [2].
  • The onset of symptoms in FAI is typically insidious or follows minor trauma [2].
  • Approximately 80% of patients with symptomatic impingement present with pain in the anterior groin or lateral hip [12].
  • Approximately 25% of patients with symptomatic impingement report pain in the lumbar spine, buttock, or referred pain to the knee [12].
  • Patients with symptomatic impingement often display the classic "C" sign when describing the location of pain [12].
  • Pain in FAI is often worse with activity such as running, cutting, and pivoting, and is exacerbated in positions of hip flexion such as prolonged sitting or squatting [12].

Physical Examination

  • Patients with FAI exhibit restricted hip internal rotation in 90° of flexion [2].
  • The impingement test, performed by flexion, adduction, and internal rotation of the hip, elicits pain but is not specific for FAI [2].
  • A positive anterior impingement test is defined as reproduction of symptoms with passive flexion, adduction, and internal rotation [5].
  • Patients with FAI generally have more passive external rotation than internal rotation [5].
  • A FABER (flexion, abduction, external rotation) test may show an increased knee-to-table distance on the affected side in patients with FAI [7].
  • Palpation of the hip typically does not reproduce tenderness in patients with FAI [7].
  • Asymmetrical range of motion between the hips is a characteristic finding in FAI [7].

Plain Radiography

  • Standard preoperative radiographs for FAI include a standing AP pelvis, false-profile, Dunn views, and frog-lateral views [14].
  • For an accurate standing AP pelvis view, the coccyx should be centered in the midline with its tip within 1 to 3 cm of the pubic symphysis [14].
  • A crossover sign, where the anterior wall crosses lateral to the posterior wall, is classically seen with acetabular retroversion causing pincer impingement [5].
  • The alpha angle is determined on lateral radiographs, and values greater than 50° indicate cam deformity [14].
  • The 45° Dunn view has been shown to be more sensitive in detecting the presence and severity of cam deformity than the 90° Dunn view [14].
  • The frog-lateral view has improved specificity for cam morphology compared with the Dunn view [14].
  • On the AP pelvis view, a lateral center edge angle (LCEA) greater than 40° indicates pincer morphology [14].
  • A crossover sign combined with an ischial spine sign and a posterior wall sign is indicative of true acetabular retroversion [14].
  • The false-profile view is obtained with the patient rotated at an angle of 65° between the pelvis and x-ray source to profile the anterior acetabulum [14].
  • An anterior center edge angle greater than 40° on the false-profile view indicates excessive anterior overcoverage [14].
  • Radiographic findings concerning for acetabular undercoverage include an LCEA less than 20° and a Tönnis angle greater than 10° [14].
  • An anterior center edge angle less than 20° on the false-profile view is indicative of acetabular undercoverage [14].

Advanced Imaging

  • The sensitivity of MRI to acetabular rim chondral lesions is limited [2].
  • CT can provide additional information about femur-acetabulum mismatch [5].
  • Magnetic resonance arthrogram can be used to provide information about cartilaginous and labral injuries [5].
  • In asymptomatic adolescents, the rate of cam deformity (defined as an α angle ≥55°) was 16.8%, pincer deformity (defined as a lateral center edge angle ≥40°) was 32.4%, and mixed-type deformity was 6.1% [16].
  • In a study of 96 asymptomatic hips with radiographic findings consistent with FAI, 82.3% of patients remained free of radiographic arthritic changes at a mean follow-up of 18.5 years [16].
  • Subspinal impingement morphology was a frequent finding in patients with symptomatic FAI evaluated by computed tomography using a three-dimensional dynamic study [24].
  • A decrease in femoral anteversion was considered a useful criterion to suspect subspinal impingement morphology [24].

Diagnostic Injections

  • Anesthetic intra-articular and extra-articular injections can aid in the diagnosis of combined FAI and athletic pubalgia [13].
  • Initial management of FAI is typically conservative, including diagnostic or therapeutic injections [5].

Treatment

Non-Operative Management

  • The 2016 Warwick Agreement defined FAI syndrome as a diagnosis related to the triad of symptoms, clinical signs, and imaging findings [8].
  • Evidence supports the use of formal physical therapy interventions postoperatively versus self-directed rehabilitation [8].
  • Nonsurgical rehabilitation for FAI syndrome should focus on activity modification, treatment of physical impairments, and optimization of joint function [8].
  • Activities that place the hip in a position of impingement should be minimized as an initial recommendation when treating FAI syndrome [8].
  • Combined positions of flexion, adduction, and internal rotation are commonly associated with increased symptoms in FAI [8].
  • Deep squatting, lunging, cycling, and hurdling are examples of activities that may require modification during rehabilitation for FAI [8].
  • Individuals with FAI syndrome have been noted to have particular deficits of the abductors, external rotators, flexors, and extensors of the hip compared with a control group [8].
  • Uncontrolled pelvic motion in the frontal and transverse planes can contribute to the pain associated with FAI [8].
  • Individuals with FAI syndrome have been found to have reduced posterior pelvis excursion and altered pelvifemoral coordination in both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing tasks [8].
  • Strengthening exercises for FAI should be advanced to include weight-bearing activities that challenge the patient to control excessive adduction and internal rotation of the hip [8].
  • Exercises that maximize gluteal recruitment and minimize use of the tensor fascia lata should be emphasized in FAI rehabilitation [8].
  • Resisted clam shell, resisted sidestep, unilateral bridge, and quadruped hip extension exercises are examples of exercises used to maximize gluteal recruitment in FAI rehabilitation [8].
  • Exercises to strengthen the lumbopelvic muscles should be considered for patients with FAI [8].
  • Appropriate lumbopelvic control can help decrease the occurrence of excessive anterior pelvic tilt associated with impingement secondary to altered acetabular orientation [8].
  • Patients with FAI syndrome may demonstrate impaired hip and pelvic musculature flexibility [8].
  • Treating hip flexor tightness should be a priority in flexibility activities for FAI because excessive tightness can be associated with anterior pelvic tilt [8].
  • Anterior pelvic tilt has been correlated with the occurrence of FAI earlier in hip range of motion [8].
  • Clinicians must be cautious to avoid placing patients in positions associated with symptomatic impingement when prescribing stretching activities for FAI [8].
  • Joint mobilization may be indicated for patients with FAI when examination suggests a loss of capsular mobility [8].
  • Examination findings suggesting a loss of capsular mobility in FAI include loss of passive range of motion, a capsular end-feel with passive range of motion assessment, and a decrease in symptoms with manual distraction of the hip joint [8].
  • Soft-tissue mobilization can be useful for patients with FAI when tissue restricts joint mobility [8].
  • A loss of motion associated with an elastic end-feel coupled with an immediate response to manual treatment of the target tissue indicates soft-tissue mobilization as a potentially useful intervention for FAI [8].

Operative Management

  • Hip arthroscopy is an effective treatment modality for FAI syndrome [4].
  • Both arthroscopic and open techniques are effective in the surgical management of FAI syndrome [4].
  • Failure to address all the components of osseous impingement is a prime reason for continued pain and dysfunction following hip arthroscopy [4].
  • Residual deformity is a leading cause of continued pain after the surgical management of FAI syndrome [4].
  • In the absence of preexisting chondral disease, residual impingement is the leading cause of continued postoperative pain and revision surgery [21].
  • A recent randomized clinical trial reported that hip arthroscopy led to a greater improvement than physical therapy [21].
  • The current literature does not support prophylactic cam or pincer decompression in asymptomatic patients [21].

Outcomes and Prognostic Factors

  • Reduced pain and improved function are reported in 68% to 96% of patients following surgical treatment of FAI syndrome [21].
  • Approximately 75% of athletes are able to return to competition at the same level or better following surgical treatment of FAI syndrome [21].
  • The long-term effect of hip arthroscopy and its potential to alter the natural history of FAI syndrome and prevent early degenerative joint disease remain to be determined [21].
  • Ten-year outcomes on 145 patients reported a 76% survivorship following surgical treatment of FAI syndrome [21].
  • The presence of preoperative osteoarthritis (Tönnis grade ≥ 2 or Outerbridge grade ≥ 3) is the strongest predictor of poor outcome following hip arthroscopy for FAI syndrome [21].
  • Older age, a longer duration of symptoms, more severe preoperative pain, and poorer functional scores are factors associated with a poorer outcome following surgical intervention for FAI syndrome [21].
  • Older age, preexisting osteoarthritis, and a longer duration of symptoms are risk factors for poor outcomes following surgical intervention for FAI syndrome [4].

References

[2] Aaos Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review 3. Nonarthroplasty Surgical Treatment of the Hip > I. Femoroacetabular Impingement.

[4] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update Sports Medicine 6. Femoroacetabular Impingement > Summary.

[5] Miller S Review Of Orthopaedics. SECTION 16 PATELLAR TRACKING IN TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY > FEMOROACETABULAR IMPINGEMENT > 2. Types (Fig. 4.33).

[7] Campbell S Operative Orthopaedics 4 Volume Set. ANTERIOR CRUCIATE AND ANTROLATERAL LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION (BOX 51.8) > FEMOROACETABULAR IMPINGEMENT.

[8] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update Sports Medicine 6. Hip Rehabilitation > Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome.

[9] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 13 Ebook Without Multimedia. Pediatric Hip Disorders > Femoroacetabular Impingement.

[10] Campbell S Operative Orthopaedics 4 Volume Set. HIP PAIN IN THE YOUNG ADULT AND HIP PRESERVATION SURGERY > FEMOROACETABULAR IMPINGEMENT.

[12] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update Sports Medicine 6. Femoroacetabular Impingement > History.

[13] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update Sports Medicine 6. Core Muscle Injury/Athletic Pubalgia and Groin Pathology > Combined Athletic Pubalgia and Femoroacetabular Impingement.

[14] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update Sports Medicine 6. Femoroacetabular Impingement > Imaging > Plain Radiographs.

[16] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update. Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis and Femoroacetabular Impingement > Femoroacetabular Impingement > Epidemiology.

[17] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update Sports Medicine 6. Femoroacetabular Impingement > Types of Impingement > Extra-­articular Impingement.

[18] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update Sports Medicine 6. Femoroacetabular Impingement > Etiology.

[21] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update Sports Medicine 6. Femoroacetabular Impingement > Outcomes.

[22] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 13 Ebook Without Multimedia. Early Degenerative Changes of the Hip > Femoroacetabular Impingement.

[23] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update Sports Medicine 6. Femoroacetabular Impingement > Physical Examination.

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g. Licensed Rights means the rights granted to You subject to the terms and conditions of this Public License, which are limited to all Copyright and Similar Rights that apply to Your use of the Licensed Material and that the Licensor has authority to license.

h. Licensor means the individual(s) or entity(ies) granting rights under this Public License.

i. NonCommercial means not primarily intended for or directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation. For purposes of this Public License, the exchange of the Licensed Material for other material subject to Copyright and Similar Rights by digital file-sharing or similar means is NonCommercial provided there is no payment of monetary compensation in connection with the exchange.

j. Share means to provide material to the public by any means or process that requires permission under the Licensed Rights, such as reproduction, public display, public performance, distribution, dissemination, communication, or importation, and to make material available to the public including in ways that members of the public may access the material from a place and at a time individually chosen by them.

k. Sui Generis Database Rights means rights other than copyright resulting from Directive 96/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 1996 on the legal protection of databases, as amended and/or succeeded, as well as other essentially equivalent rights anywhere in the world.

l. You means the individual or entity exercising the Licensed Rights under this Public License. Your has a corresponding meaning.

Section 2 -- Scope.

a. License grant.

1. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Public License, the Licensor hereby grants You a worldwide, royalty-free, non-sublicensable, non-exclusive, irrevocable license to exercise the Licensed Rights in the Licensed Material to:

a. reproduce and Share the Licensed Material, in whole or in part, for NonCommercial purposes only; and

b. produce, reproduce, and Share Adapted Material for NonCommercial purposes only.

2. Exceptions and Limitations. For the avoidance of doubt, where Exceptions and Limitations apply to Your use, this Public License does not apply, and You do not need to comply with its terms and conditions.

3. Term. The term of this Public License is specified in Section 6(a).

4. Media and formats; technical modifications allowed. The Licensor authorizes You to exercise the Licensed Rights in all media and formats whether now known or hereafter created, and to make technical modifications necessary to do so. The Licensor waives and/or agrees not to assert any right or authority to forbid You from making technical modifications necessary to exercise the Licensed Rights, including technical modifications necessary to circumvent Effective Technological Measures. For purposes of this Public License, simply making modifications authorized by this Section 2(a) (4) never produces Adapted Material.

5. Downstream recipients.

a. Offer from the Licensor -- Licensed Material. Every recipient of the Licensed Material automatically receives an offer from the Licensor to exercise the Licensed Rights under the terms and conditions of this Public License.

b. No downstream restrictions. You may not offer or impose any additional or different terms or conditions on, or apply any Effective Technological Measures to, the Licensed Material if doing so restricts exercise of the Licensed Rights by any recipient of the Licensed Material.

6. No endorsement. Nothing in this Public License constitutes or may be construed as permission to assert or imply that You are, or that Your use of the Licensed Material is, connected with, or sponsored, endorsed, or granted official status by, the Licensor or others designated to receive attribution as provided in Section 3(a)(1)(A)(i).

b. Other rights.

1. Moral rights, such as the right of integrity, are not licensed under this Public License, nor are publicity, privacy, and/or other similar personality rights; however, to the extent possible, the Licensor waives and/or agrees not to assert any such rights held by the Licensor to the limited extent necessary to allow You to exercise the Licensed Rights, but not otherwise.

2. Patent and trademark rights are not licensed under this Public License.

3. To the extent possible, the Licensor waives any right to collect royalties from You for the exercise of the Licensed Rights, whether directly or through a collecting society under any voluntary or waivable statutory or compulsory licensing scheme. In all other cases the Licensor expressly reserves any right to collect such royalties, including when the Licensed Material is used other than for NonCommercial purposes.

Section 3 -- License Conditions.

Your exercise of the Licensed Rights is expressly made subject to the following conditions.

a. Attribution.

1. If You Share the Licensed Material (including in modified form), You must:

a. retain the following if it is supplied by the Licensor with the Licensed Material:

i. identification of the creator(s) of the Licensed Material and any others designated to receive attribution, in any reasonable manner requested by the Licensor (including by pseudonym if designated);

ii. a copyright notice;

iii. a notice that refers to this Public License;

iv. a notice that refers to the disclaimer of warranties;

v. a URI or hyperlink to the Licensed Material to the extent reasonably practicable;

b. indicate if You modified the Licensed Material and retain an indication of any previous modifications; and

c. indicate the Licensed Material is licensed under this Public License, and include the text of, or the URI or hyperlink to, this Public License.

2. You may satisfy the conditions in Section 3(a)(1) in any reasonable manner based on the medium, means, and context in which You Share the Licensed Material. For example, it may be reasonable to satisfy the conditions by providing a URI or hyperlink to a resource that includes the required information.

3. If requested by the Licensor, You must remove any of the information required by Section 3(a)(1)(A) to the extent reasonably practicable.

4. If You Share Adapted Material You produce, the Adapter's License You apply must not prevent recipients of the Adapted Material from complying with this Public License.

Section 4 -- Sui Generis Database Rights.

Where the Licensed Rights include Sui Generis Database Rights that apply to Your use of the Licensed Material:

a. for the avoidance of doubt, Section 2(a)(1) grants You the right to extract, reuse, reproduce, and Share all or a substantial portion of the contents of the database for NonCommercial purposes only;

b. if You include all or a substantial portion of the database contents in a database in which You have Sui Generis Database Rights, then the database in which You have Sui Generis Database Rights (but not its individual contents) is Adapted Material; and

c. You must comply with the conditions in Section 3(a) if You Share all or a substantial portion of the contents of the database.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4 supplements and does not replace Your obligations under this Public License where the Licensed Rights include other Copyright and Similar Rights.

Section 5 -- Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability.

a. UNLESS OTHERWISE SEPARATELY UNDERTAKEN BY THE LICENSOR, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE LICENSOR OFFERS THE LICENSED MATERIAL AS-IS AND AS-AVAILABLE, AND MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND CONCERNING THE LICENSED MATERIAL, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHER. THIS INCLUDES, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ABSENCE OF LATENT OR OTHER DEFECTS, ACCURACY, OR THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF ERRORS, WHETHER OR NOT KNOWN OR DISCOVERABLE. WHERE DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTIES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS DISCLAIMER MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

b. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, IN NO EVENT WILL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE TO YOU ON ANY LEGAL THEORY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR OTHER LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS PUBLIC LICENSE OR USE OF THE LICENSED MATERIAL, EVEN IF THE LICENSOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES. WHERE A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

c. The disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability provided above shall be interpreted in a manner that, to the extent possible, most closely approximates an absolute disclaimer and waiver of all liability.

Section 6 -- Term and Termination.

a. This Public License applies for the term of the Copyright and Similar Rights licensed here. However, if You fail to comply with this Public License, then Your rights under this Public License terminate automatically.

b. Where Your right to use the Licensed Material has terminated under Section 6(a), it reinstates:

1. automatically as of the date the violation is cured, provided it is cured within 30 days of Your discovery of the violation; or

2. upon express reinstatement by the Licensor.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6(b) does not affect any right the Licensor may have to seek remedies for Your violations of this Public License.

c. For the avoidance of doubt, the Licensor may also offer the Licensed Material under separate terms or conditions or stop distributing the Licensed Material at any time; however, doing so will not terminate this Public License.

d. Sections 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8 survive termination of this Public License.

Section 7 -- Other Terms and Conditions.

a. The Licensor shall not be bound by any additional or different terms or conditions communicated by You unless expressly agreed.

b. Any arrangements, understandings, or agreements regarding the Licensed Material not stated herein are separate from and independent of the terms and conditions of this Public License.

Section 8 -- Interpretation.

a. For the avoidance of doubt, this Public License does not, and shall not be interpreted to, reduce, limit, restrict, or impose conditions on any use of the Licensed Material that could lawfully be made without permission under this Public License.

b. To the extent possible, if any provision of this Public License is deemed unenforceable, it shall be automatically reformed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable. If the provision cannot be reformed, it shall be severed from this Public License without affecting the enforceability of the remaining terms and conditions.

c. No term or condition of this Public License will be waived and no failure to comply consented to unless expressly agreed to by the Licensor.

d. Nothing in this Public License constitutes or may be interpreted as a limitation upon, or waiver of, any privileges and immunities that apply to the Licensor or You, including from the legal processes of any jurisdiction or authority.


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