Femoroacetabular impingement: role of imaging

Musculoskelet Surg. 2013 Aug:97 Suppl 2:S117-26. doi: 10.1007/s12306-013-0283-y. Epub 2013 Aug 15.

Abstract

The femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is an impingement characterized by repetitive abutment between the femur and the acetabular rim during hip motion due to loss of joint clearance (Imam and Khanduja in Int Orthop 35(10):1427-1435, 2011; James et al. in AJR Am J Roentgenol 187(6):1412-1419, 2006). Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) can be classified as either cam or pincer type, and it can be differentiated on the basis of a predominance of either a femoral or an acetabular abnormality (Pfirrmann et al. in Radiology 244(2):626, 2007; Ganz et al. in Clin Orthop Relat Res 466(2):264-272, 2008). In cases of cam FAI, the nonspherical shape of the femoral head at the femoral head-neck junction and reduced depth of the femoral waist lead to abutment of the femoral head-neck junction against the acetabular rim. In cases of pincer FAI, acetabular overcoverage limits the range of motion and leads to a conflict between the acetabulum and the femur. The most important role of preoperative MR evaluation in patients affected by FAI is the accurate assessment of the damage's extension.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetabulum / abnormalities
  • Acetabulum / physiopathology
  • Arthrography / methods
  • Cumulative Trauma Disorders / complications
  • Femoracetabular Impingement / classification
  • Femoracetabular Impingement / diagnosis*
  • Femoracetabular Impingement / etiology
  • Femoracetabular Impingement / surgery*
  • Femur / abnormalities
  • Femur / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Orthopedic Procedures / methods
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / methods
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome