Hip Pain in the Young Athlete: Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

Hip pain is a common complaint among young athletes and is often caused by femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). FAIS is a condition involving anatomic abnormalities of the acetabulum, femoral head, or both. These abnormalities are described as either a pincer deformity (acetabulum), cam deformity (femoral head), or mixed-type (both the acetabulum and femoral head). These anatomic pathologies lead to abnormal contact forces in the hip joint, predisposing patients to acetabular labral tears and the development of early osteoarthritis. ⁶ FAIS is a relatively recent discovery, first described by Reinhold Ganz in 2003. ² As such, clinicians, physical therapists, and athletic trainers may not be aware of its prevalence. FAIS presents most commonly with anterior groin pain and is often diagnosed in young, female patients.^3,4 Treatment options include conservative measures of rest, anti-inflammatory medications, injections, and physical therapy. Ultimately, some patients may require surgery. Arthroscopic treatment of FAIS involves the repair of the torn labrum and an osteoplasty that corrects the pincer and/or cam deformity. ⁵ Hip arthroscopy for FAIS has been growing exponentially and has been studied extensively, demonstrating significant long-lasting improvement and high return-to-sport rates. ¹ It is important that all levels of healthcare providers have a better understanding of hip pain in young athletes, so that we may all aid in prompt diagnosis and treatment.