Femoracetabular Impingement (FAI)

Femoracetabular Impingement (FAI)

Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) Treatment and Surgery in Wayne, Parsippany & Paramus, NJ

FAI is a congenital abnormality in which there is abnormal bone growth/formation of the bones that make up the hip joint.

Femoracetabular impingement (FAI) is caused by abnormal bone growth/formation of the bones that make up the hip joint — the femoral head (ball) and the acetabulum (socket). FAI occurs because the hip bones form abnormally during childhood. There are three types of FAI: pincer — bone growth over the rim of the acetabulum; cam — abnormally shaped femoral head; and combined impingement — both pincer and cam type impingement are present. Symptoms can take several years or decades to present, but when they do, it often indicates that there is damage to the cartilage or labrum due to the abnormality. Symptoms often present as pain in the groin, stiffness and limping. A thorough examination in the office coupled with imaging can confirm this diagnosis. Conservative treatment is often initiated as first-line therapy, implementing lifestyle modifications, physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication. If conservative treatment fails or pain progresses to a severity that effects daily living, arthroscopic surgery may be indicated as the first-line surgical intervention utilized. During this procedure, the surgeon can remove frayed or damaged areas to the labrum and articular cartilage and shave down the bony abnormalities. In some cases, an open surgical approach may be necessary to accomplish this in order to establish adequate pain relief.