CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is where the hip ball (femoral head) doesn't quite fit the joint socket (acetabulum). This can cause pain when moving, and groin pain in particular. The condition affects young to middle-aged adults and can be caused by repeated hip movements. It's a common condition in athletes and dancers.
About FAI
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition where the ball of the hip joint pinches on the rim of the hip socket leading to pain, stiffness and damage to the joint.
There are two main forms of FAI;
- Cam impingement is when the head is not perfectly round and doesn't fit the joint.
- Pincer impingement is where extra bone extends beyond the normal joint socket, causing the femur bone to bump into the rim of the socket.
This is a common condition in athletes, footballers and dancers, often requiring minimally invasive keyhole surgery to reshape the joints.
What are the symptoms of femoroacetabular impingement?
Both types of hip impingement conditions, 'Cam' and 'Pincer', wear down the shock absorbing cartilage in the hip joint and the nerve-packed seal around the edge of the joint (labrum). This causes pain in and around the hip joint and makes it hard to move.
Other signs and symptoms include:
- stiffness in the thigh, hip, or groin
- the inability to flex the hip beyond a right angle
- pain in the groin area
- pain in the hip, groin, or lower back when resting
- clicking of the hip
Your consultant will discuss your symptoms to help make a thorough diagnosis. FAI can affect people of all ages, and is often missed in 30-40-year-olds. Taking a careful history, and carrying out a thorough examination can help identify the likely cause.
Imaging, such as an MRI scan (sometimes with an arthrogram) of the hip, can help confirm the underlying diagnosis (as X-ray cannot rule out FAI). A CT scan can also be very helpful giving a 3D reconstruction of the joint. Consultants skilled in sports injury are often experts at identifying FAI.
FAI may require keyhole surgery (hip arthroscopy) to reshape the joints, but in some cases injection therapy and robust physiotherapy or osteopathy may be enough to get a person back to full activity.
An abnormally shaped femoral head or hip socket can often be sculpted and reshaped. These procedure restore smooth movement in the hip and reduce pain. If there is an associated labral tear, this is often repaired.
Hip impingement tests & scans
MRI scan
Our consultant radiologists use some of the most technologically advanced MRI scanners to provide fully bespoke, highly accurate examinations of the inside of your body.
Arthroscopy
Lower limb arthroscopy is a minimally invasive keyhole procedure used to examine, evaluate and treat common problems affecting the joints in the ankle, knee or hip.
Biomechanical assessment
EXAMINATION OF LIMB FUNCTION A biomechanical assessment is an analysis of how your muscles and body are functioning together to identify problems or diagnose pain
Hip impingement treatments
Hip arthroscopy physio
Physiotherapy to reduce pain and build strength after arthroscopy surgery to treat hip conditions.
Hip arthroscopy
Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure to treat a range of hip problems using keyhole surgery. The smaller incision means less pain and a faster recovery time then open surgery, and it can delay the need for a hip replacement.
Hip impingement surgery
Hip impingement surgery reshapes the bones of the hip joint to correct abnormal bone contact and reduce cartilage damage.
Our Hip impingement locations
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place London W1U 5NY
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, London SW1W 8RH
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street London SE1 2PR
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place London NW8 9LE
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way Birmingham B15 2TQ
Patient stories
Georgia's story
At just 20 years old, Georgia was about to fulfil her dream of opening her own beauty salon when persistent symptoms led to an unexpected diagnosis of bowel cancer.
Hallie's story
When six-year-old Hallie was admitted to The Portland Hospital in July, her parents were facing an anxious wait. What began as abdominal pain led to a query of appendicitis and, following surgery, concerns around possible sepsis.
Mark's story
For years, left leg pain had been an irritating thing in Mark’s life. “I had a dull, constant ache behind my knee and in my calf when I was standing, especially towards the end of the day when I had been up and about a lot.”
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.