Hip

Femoroacetabular impingement

Mechanism

A bony morphology in which the femoral neck (cam) or the acetabular rim (pincer) abut on flexion with internal rotation, loading the labrum and adjacent cartilage.

Recognition

Deep groin pain on prolonged sitting, squatting and getting into a car, often indicated with a C-shaped grip around the hip. The flexion-adduction-internal rotation test is sensitive but not specific.

Course

The bony shape alone is not a disease: a cam morphology occurs in a large proportion of asymptomatic athletes. Only the combination of shape, symptoms and findings makes the diagnosis.

Structures

• Acetabular labrum
• Iliofemoral ligament (Y-ligament of Bigelow / Bertin)

Joints involved

• Hip joint

Clinical tests

• FADIR test
• FABER test

Sources

• Magee DJ, Manske RC. Orthopedic Physical Assessment, 7e editie. Elsevier. 2021