Morphological Changes of the Hip Commonly Associated With Femoroacetabular Impingement Are Not Correlated With Rotational Range of Hip Motion in Elite Soccer Athletes.

BACKGROUND: Morphological changes characteristic of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) are common in soccer players. However, the clinical relevance of such anatomical variations is still not well-defined. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that high alpha angle values and/or acetabular retroversion index (ARI) are correlated with rotational range of motion (ROM) of the hip and that there are clinical-radiological diferences between the dominant lower limb (DLL) and nondominant lower limb (NDLL) in professional soccer players. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. METHODS: A total of 59 male professional soccer players (average age 25.5 years, range 18-38 years) were evaluated in the preseason. As main outcome measures, we evaluated the alpha angle and the ARI and hip IR and ER ROM with radiographic analysis. RESULTS: The measurements taken on DLL and NDLL were compared and a significant difference was found between the sides in the ER (P = 0.027), where the DLL measures were 1.54° (95% CI, 0.18-2.89) greater than the NDLL. There were no significant differences between the sides in the measures of IR (P > 0.99), total ROM (P = 0.07), alpha angle (P = 0.250), and ARI (P = 0.079). The correlations between the rotation measurements and the alpha angle in each limb were evaluated and the coefficient values showed no correlation; so also between the ARI and rotation measures. CONCLUSION: Morphological changes of the femur or acetabulum are not correlated with hip IR and ER ROM in male professional soccer players. ER on the dominant side was greater than on the nondominant side. There was no significant difference in the other measurements between sides. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In clinical practice, it is common to attribute loss of hip rotational movement to the presence of FAI. This study shows that anatomical FAI may not have a very strong influence on available hip rotational movement in professional soccer athletes.

Are femoroacetabular impingement tomographic angles associated with the histological assessment of labral tears? A cadaveric study.

PURPOSE: This study sought to investigate the association between tomographic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) angles and histologically evaluated labral tears. The authors hypothesized that cadavers presenting with cam and pincer morphologies would present a higher prevalence of acetabular labral tears. METHODS: Twenty fresh cadavers were submitted to computed tomography. Standard FAI angles were measured, including the alpha angle, femoral version, acetabular version, Tonnis angle and center-edge angle. A cam lesion was defined as an alpha angle greater than 50o. A pincer lesion was defined as a center-edge angle greater than 40o, a Tonnis angle less than 0o or acetabular version less than 0o. After dissection, three fragments of each acetabulum, corresponding to the antero-superior, superior and postero-superior acetabular rim, were obtained. These fragments were submitted to routine histological preparation. Each slide was evaluated for possible labral tears. Tears were classified according to their Seldes type. RESULTS: The mean age of the cadavers was 50.2 years (SD: 7.4; 13 males). Sixteen (80%) of the cadavers had a cam lesion, and eight cadavers (40%) had a pincer lesion. Histologically, 16 (80%) of the cadavers had a labral tear in at least one region. According to the Seldes classification, 60.7% and 28.6% of these labral tears were type 1 and type 2, respectively. A mixed type of labral tear (10.7%), which represented a new form of Seldes tear, was described. Cadavers with a labral tear had significantly higher alpha angles than other cadavers (53.29o vs 49.33o, p = 0.01). Pincer lesions were not associated with labral tears. We found no association between pincer or cam lesions and Seldes classification. CONCLUSION: Cadavers presenting with higher alpha angles had a higher incidence of labral tears. No association was found between FAI and Seldes classification. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study demonstrated a high prevalence of FAI abnormalities associated with histological alterations in a cadaveric sample. Joint damage may be present in the early stages of FAI.

Prevalence, topographic and morphometric features of femoral cam-type deformity: changes in relation to age and gender.

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome is a frequent cause of pain and in recent years considered to be a precursor of premature hip osteoarthritis. The structural abnormalities which characterize FAI syndrome, such as the cam-type deformity, are associated with morphological alterations that may lead to hip osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and topographic and morphometric features of the cam deformity in a series of 326 femur specimens obtained from a Mexican population, as well as changes in prevalence in relation to age and gender. The specimens were subdivided into groups according to gender and age. A standardized photograph of the proximal femur of each specimen was taken, and the photograph was used to determine the alpha angle using a computer program; the location of the lesion was determined by quadrant and the morphometric characteristics were determined by direct observation. The overall prevalence of cam deformities in the femur specimens was 29.8 % (97/326), with a prevalence by gender of 35.2 % (64/182) in men and 22.9 % (33/144) in women. The mean alpha angle was 54.6° ± 8.5° in all of the osteological specimens and 65.6° ± 7.5° in those specimens exhibiting a cam deformity. Cam deformities were found topographically in the anterior-superior quadrant of the femoral head-neck junction in 86.6 % (84/97) of the femurs. Deformities were found in 28.2 % of the right femurs and 31.3 % of the left femurs. The prevalence of cam deformity was higher in the femur specimens of young men and in those of middle-aged and older women. There were no significant differences in this deformity in relation to the alpha angle according to age and gender.

[Femoroacetabular impingement: association between the over-coverage and acetabular cartilage delamination areas]. / Pinzamiento femoroacetabular: asociación entre el área de sobrecobertura y la zona de delaminación condral acetabular.

BACKGROUND: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), it is a clinical syndrome relatively recently recognized as source of hip mechanic pain and early osteoarthritis. Two types of FAI have been described, based on the bone morphology and pattern of chondral and labral damage; the cam type is frequently associated with chondral delamination; and the pincer type is associated with a contre-coup injury of the posteroinferior acetabulum. A close relationship between the zone of acetabular overcoverage or retroversion and the area of acetabular chondral delamination has been observed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between the acetabular overcoverage or retroversion zone, and the cartilage delamination area; and if by treating the overcoverage zone, the cartilage delamination area itself is also treated. METHODS: A prospective evaluation was conducted on 16 patients (17 hips) with FAI and chondral delamination treated with acetabular trimming and labral reinsertion, and femoral bump resection. RESULTS: All cases had chondral delamination in the anterosuperior acetabular area, corresponding to the overcoverage or retroversion zone. In the 16 patients (94% of the hips) after the acetabular overcoverage bone resection, the remaining cartilage was stable and without delamination. Only one case (6%) required microfractures to treat the exposed subchondral bone after delaminated cartilage debridement. CONCLUSION: The acetabular chondral delamination area has a very close relationship with the acetabular overcoverage zone, meaning that the delamination area can be treated by trimming the overcoverage zone.