Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

OPA treats a wide variety of hip conditions and offers comprehensive treatment options — including many non-surgical solutions, minimally invasive hip arthroscopies (repairs) and total hip replacement.

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What is FAI?

The femoral head and pelvic acetabulum are the two bones that form the hip joint. Smooth articular cartilage covers the femoral head and a rim of cartilage called the hip labrum surrounds the outer edge of the acetabulum. These structures help the hip bones move smoothly and easily without pain.
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) occurs when excess bone or bone spurs on the femoral head and/or acetabulum causing the femur and acetabulum to rub against each other.

Common Causes:

- - Bones that do not form normally during the childhood growing years
  - Athletes

Symptoms of FAI may include:

- - Shooting, stabbing, burning pain
  - Dull aching pain
  - Stiffness
  - Limping

Symptoms are often triggered by or get worse because of twisting, turning, and pivoting movements. An early, accurate FAI diagnosis is important because it helps to treat the condition before it gets worse. Orthopedic Physicians Alaska (OPA) hi specialists use a step-by-step approach to diagnose FAI:

When diagnosing a Quadriceps Tendon Tear, the OPA specialist will provide:

- - A medical history review that includes checking for FAI risk factors like bone growth abnormalities and arthritis is obtained
  - A complete hip examination that includes impingement, strength, and flexibility tests is performed
  - Multiple view x-rays are ordered and analyzed to see how well the hip bones articulate at rest and while standing

Once the severity of FAI is determined and a formal diagnosis is made, a customized treatment plan is created. Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms and improving function as quickly as possible.

Common Treatments:

A combination of nonsurgical treatment options treat mild to moderate FAI:

Activity Modification

Limits movements that cause symptom flare-ups

NSAIDs

Oral medications decrease nerve inflammation and pain.

Physical Therapy

An OPA approved therapist can help you maintain your motion and function.

FAI that does not respond to nonsurgical treatment, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery may be recommended treatment option. An OPA specialist carefully removes small pieces of symptom-causing bone and cartilage during an outpatient procedure.

At OPA, our Board Certified and Fellowship Trained Hip Specialists are experts in diagnosing and treating femoroacetabular impingement.

If you are experiencing hip pain and would like a treatment solution you should contact OPA to schedule an appointment at any of our convenient locations in Anchorage and Wasilla.