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While the term Femoroacetabular is quite a mouthful, it is just the clinical name for your hip joint, where the neck of your femur (the long bone of your upper leg) meets the acetabulum of your pelvis. Put simply it is the ball-and-socket complex that makes up your hip joint.
In a healthy person, the hip is a very strong and stable joint, capable of movement in multiple directions, thanks to its unique architecture. Five ligaments hold the joint in place, contributing to its integrity and stability. However, like all joints that are subjected to wear and tear from daily activities, the hip joint can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort when injured.
There are actually two distinct types of FAI, and each has unique characteristics:
Patients typically first become aware of FAI as limited hip mobility. The condition gradually progresses to hip or groin pain, with hip rotation in a sitting position or during sports.
Essentially FAI is a “wear and tear” issue stemming from a number of potential causes, including:
Surgery is an option for FAI to correct the mechanical and pathological changes surrounding the hip’s neck/acetabulum junction. However, because FAI is apparently caused by deficits in strength, range of motion and posture, surgery may not offer a long-term solution for active individuals, unless efforts are made to correct those issues.
Conservative non-invasive physical therapy is often able to resolve FAI without surgical intervention. Therapy should focus on hip mobilization, range of motion and muscle strengthening.
A typical physical therapy protocol for FAI may include:
Therapy strategies should be specifically tailored to the type of FAI, and to the physical activity needs and preferences of the patient.
If you are suffering from limited hip mobility or chronic hip pain, the sports medicine specialists at NYDNRehab can help. We use diagnostic ultrasonography and other diagnostic tools to accurately determine the source of your pain. We then design a treatment protocol to specifically address your condition. Do not continue to live with ongoing hip pain. Contact NYDNR today, and see why we are reputed to be the very best rehab clinic in NYC.
Below is a prime example of how ultrasound can take the guesswork out of diagnosis.
A bad physical therapy experience is one of the primary causes of unnecessary surgery
In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.
Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.
The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.
Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating
the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy
due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient
to proper diagnostic workup
Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed
to be a complete tear with muscle contraction
under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)
Complete tear of rectus femoris
with large hematoma (blood)
Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited
on dynamic sonography examination
