[From Pathomorphology to Hip Osteoarthritis - Femoroacetabular Impingement As an Example]

From Pathomorphology to Hip Osteoarthritis - Femoroacetabular Impingement as an Example Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) occurs due to abnormal morphology and subsequent contact between the proximal femur and the acetabulum and can be a source of labral and chondral damage in the hip joint. While there is evidence that Cam-type FAI is correlated with hip osteoarthritis, there is yet no clear link between osteoarthritis and Pincer-FAI in which primarily the labrum gets injured. Hips with evident deformity and beginning chondral and/or labral damage should undergo surgery. Most cases (80-90 %) can be successfully treated by hip arthroscopy. At the time of surgery, the typical FAI-patient is 30 years old. With correct indication and proper surgical technique, favorable outcomes are achieved in more than 80 % of the cases at a short- to mid-term follow-up.