Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

 What is FAI?

• FAI is a recently understood hip condition which describes a mechanical mismatch between the ‘ball’ and the ‘socket’ of the hip
• There are two described types of impingement:
  • ‘Cam’ type impingement describes a ‘bump’ on the surface of the femoral head (ball) which jams on the rim of the (acetabulum) socket
    This typically affects younger athletic men (common)
  • ‘Pincer’ type which described an overdeep acetabulum (socket) which restricts the movement of the femoral head (ball)
    This typically affects middle aged women (less common)
• Often there is a degree of overlap between the types