The disease arising out of incompatibility between the head of the femur and hip hole is called femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. If it is not treated for a long time, it causes tissue and cartilage damage, accordingly hip osteoarthritis, and its symptoms are herniated disc and groin problems. Patients tending different branches dıe to inguinal pain apply to orthopedics specialist and diagnosis is made with detailed medical history and examination. While femoroacetabular impingement syndrome can be treated with medication, physiotherapy and injection application is early stages, advanced stage of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome can be treated with a closed surgery method called arthroscopy.
Symptoms of Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome
The most important symptom of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome is the pain between the inguinal and hip. The pain increases during activities such as squat, crossing legs, sitting crossed-leg, driving and sometimes it may radiate to the front face of the femur. It is keen and repetitive. The pain can be accompanied by restriction of movement and tiredness. Generally, movement restriction, pain, and tiredness are observed during activities such as walking.
As the most typical symptom of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome is inguinal pain, the patients generally apply to different branches such as general surgery, urology, and gynecology. The disease cannot be diagnosed by these branches and the patient is directed to orthopedics clinic. Although a good orthopedics physician can diagnose the disease with medical history of the patient and detailed physical examination, x-ray and MRI can be performed for final diagnosis and starting the treatment.
Causes of Femoroacetabular Impingement
Structural disorders have an important role in femoroacetabular impingement. On the other hand, it is seen often in some sporters. This risk increases especially in sports where the sporter is exposed to repetitive flexion and internal rotation movements.
Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement
If femoroacetabular impingement is treated in the early stages, the treatment can be applied for pain with non-surgical methods. These methods include medication treatment, physiotherapy, and injection for joints. Beginning treatments are generally applied to stop the pain. If response is not obtained with non-surgical methods, and if there is advanced impingement, hip arthroscopy can be performed.
In hip arthroscopy, a few small incisions (about 0.5 cm) are made around the hip joint. It is a closed surgery method. It is carried out under general or local anesthesia. With hip arthroscopy, bone protrusion causing impingement can be trimmed and cartilage damage can be repaired. As surgical incision is smaller, post-op process is more comfortable. The recovery period has less pain and is faster. Post-Op physiotherapy is required. The speed of the recovery is depending on the rehabilitation. To get more information about hip arthroscopy you can read hip arthroscopy article.
