What is femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)?

Femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI, is a condition in which the bones of the hip joint do not move together smoothly because of abnormal contact between the femoral head or neck and the rim of the hip socket.

Repeated contact can damage the cartilage or the labrum, which is the ring of tissue around the edge of the socket. FAI often affects younger or physically active adults and may cause pain during activities that involve deep hip bending or rotation.

The main types of FAI are

• Cam impingement: Extra bone develops around the femoral head or neck, reducing its ability to move smoothly inside the socket.
• Pincer impingement: The hip socket covers too much of the femoral head, causing contact during movement.
• Combined impingement: Features of both cam and pincer abnormalities are present.

Common symptoms include groin pain, stiffness, reduced hip movement, and discomfort during sitting, running, squatting, or twisting.

Diagnosis usually involves physical examination and X-rays, with MRI or other imaging sometimes used to assess cartilage and labral damage. Dr. Atul Mishra can evaluate whether symptoms are caused by FAI or another hip condition and determine whether physiotherapy, activity modification, medicines, or surgical treatment should be considered.