FAI (Hip Impingement) Treatment in Raleigh, NC
What is Femoroacetabular Impingement?
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition where there is too much friction in the hip joint from bony irregularities causing pain and decreased range of hip motion.
The femoral head and acetabulum rub against each other creating damage and pain to the hip joint. The damage can occur to the articular cartilage (the smooth white surface of the ball or socket) or the labral tissue (the lining of the edge of the socket) during normal movement of the hip. The articular cartilage or labral tissue can fray or tear after repeated friction. Over time, more cartilage and labrum are lost until eventually the femur bone and acetabulum bone impact on one other. Bone on bone friction is commonly referred to as osteoarthritis.
Wake Nonsurgical Ortho is Triangle’s first private practice solely dedicated to Nonsurgical orthopedics. Duke-trained non-surgical orthopedic specialist, Dr. Matthew Kanaan, is dedicated to making sure that patients receive access to non-surgical treatments for hip impingement. Dr. Kanaan will take the time to answer any questions you may have so that he can determine the best treatment option for you. For more information, contact our orthopedic clinic in Raleigh at (919) 719-2270 and schedule an appointment today!
Types of Hip Impingement
FAI impingement generally occurs as two forms: Cam and Pincer.
- Cam Impingement: The Cam form of impingement is when the femoral head and neck are not perfectly round, most commonly due to excess bone that has formed. This lack of roundness and excess bone causes abnormal contact between the surfaces.
- Pincer Impingement: The Pincer form of impingement is when the socket or acetabulum rim has overgrown and is too deep. It covers too much of the femoral head resulting in the labral cartilage being pinched. The Pincer form of impingement may also be caused when the hip socket is abnormally angled backwards causing abnormal impact between the femoral head and the rim of the acetabulum.
Most diagnoses of FAI include a combination of the Cam and Pincer forms.
What are the Symptoms of FAI?
Symptoms of femoroacetabular impingement can include the following:
- Groin pain associated with hip activity
- Complaints of pain in the front, side or back of the hip
- Pain may be described as a dull ache or sharp pain
- Patients may complain of a locking, clicking, or catching sensation in the hip
- Pain often occurs to the inner hip or groin area after prolonged sitting or walking
- Difficulty in walking uphill
- Restricted hip movement
- Low back pain
- Pain in the buttocks or outer thigh area
What Are the Risk Factors of FAI?
A risk factor is something that is likely to increase a person’s chances of developing a disease or condition. Risk factors for developing femoroacetabular impingement may include the following:
- Athletes such as football players, weightlifters and hockey players
- Workers engaged in heavy labor
- Repetitive hip flexion
- Congenital hip dislocation
- Anatomical abnormalities of the femoral head or angle of the hip
- Legg-Calves-Perthes disease: a form of arthritis in children where blood supply to the bone is impaired causing bone breakdown.
- Trauma to the hip
- Inflammatory arthritis
How Does Dr. Kanaan Diagnose FAI?
FAI is diagnosed based on your medical history, a physical examination and diagnostic studies, including X-rays, MRI scans and CT scan.
What Are the Available Non Surgical Treatment Options for FAI?
Conservative treatment options refer to the management of the problem without surgery. Nonsurgical management of FAI will probably not change the underlying abnormal biomechanics of the hip causing the FAI but may offer pain relief and improved mobility.
The conservative treatment measures for FAI include:
- Rest
- Activity Modification and Limitations
- Anti-inflammatory Medications
- Physical Therapy
- Injection of steroid and analgesic into the hip joint
- PRP Injections
Schedule an Appointment for FAI (Hip Impingement) Treatment in Raleigh, NC
If you are suffering from hip pain caused by femoroacetabular impingement know that surgery is not the only option! At Wake Non-surgical Ortho, Dr. Kanaan specializes in providing patients with non-surgical treatments for their hip pain. He will take the time to provide you with a comprehensive diagnosis and discover the right non-surgical treatment option for you. For more information, contact our office in Raleigh, NC at (919)719-2270 and schedule an appointment today!