Hip joint pain has received a lot of attention during the past decade. What was often attributed to a hip strain orgroin pullis now better understood, along with its distinct causes of discomfort. Especially in young athletes, several different causes of hip-joint pain are being diagnosed and treated.
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Hip Joint Lesions
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint, and abnormal bone shapes can occur on either the ball or the socket of the hip. These are called cam or pincer lesions of the hip.
Some people diagnosed with FAI have both cam and pincer lesions, while others have one or the other.Many patients with FAI also havelabral tearsof the hip.
Treatment Options
Most patients diagnosed with FAI will start with trying simple treatments first. If the misshapen bony areas are seen on X-ray, but are not causing symptoms of hip pain, typically no treatment is needed. If the pain is a problem, treatment includes rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications.
If conservative treatments does not provide adequate relief, a surgical procedure to reshape the bone, called an osteoplasty, might be considered. There are two surgical approaches to performing an osteoplasty.
In both cases, additional procedures to address cartilage or labrum tears of the hip joint may be performed at the same time.
Does Osteoplasty Prevent Arthritis?
This is a question of great debate.Although this procedure can reduce pain from FAI, there has been no long-term study to demonstrate that reshaping bone around the hip joint will help to slow the progression of arthritis. Osteoplasty is often performed in combination with other procedures in the hip to address the labrum. Studies are ongoing to determine the long-term benefits of procedures used to treat FAI.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Femoroacetabular Impingement. Reviewed November 2016Viswanath A, Khanduja V.Can hip arthroscopy in the presence of arthritis delay the need for hip arthroplasty?.J Hip Preserv Surg. 2017;4(1):3-8. doi:+10.1093/jhps/hnw050Additional ReadingNepple JJ, et al. “Overview of Treatment Options, Clinical Results, and Controversies in the Management of Femoroacetabular Impingement” J Am Acad Orthop Surg July 2013 vol. 21 no. suppl S53-S58.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Femoroacetabular Impingement. Reviewed November 2016Viswanath A, Khanduja V.Can hip arthroscopy in the presence of arthritis delay the need for hip arthroplasty?.J Hip Preserv Surg. 2017;4(1):3-8. doi:+10.1093/jhps/hnw050Additional ReadingNepple JJ, et al. “Overview of Treatment Options, Clinical Results, and Controversies in the Management of Femoroacetabular Impingement” J Am Acad Orthop Surg July 2013 vol. 21 no. suppl S53-S58.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Femoroacetabular Impingement. Reviewed November 2016Viswanath A, Khanduja V.Can hip arthroscopy in the presence of arthritis delay the need for hip arthroplasty?.J Hip Preserv Surg. 2017;4(1):3-8. doi:+10.1093/jhps/hnw050
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Femoroacetabular Impingement. Reviewed November 2016
Viswanath A, Khanduja V.Can hip arthroscopy in the presence of arthritis delay the need for hip arthroplasty?.J Hip Preserv Surg. 2017;4(1):3-8. doi:+10.1093/jhps/hnw050
Nepple JJ, et al. “Overview of Treatment Options, Clinical Results, and Controversies in the Management of Femoroacetabular Impingement” J Am Acad Orthop Surg July 2013 vol. 21 no. suppl S53-S58.
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