A bone impingement, also called femoro acetabular impingement (FAI), occurs when you have an odd-shaped joint or a deformity in the top of your thigh bone, in the front of your hip socket, or both. You can be born with this condition or acquire it as you develop throughout your childhood years.
Over time, if you’re affected by a bone impingement, stiffness can develop due to disruption in your hip movement, resulting in pain in your groin area or the front of your thigh.
Our team at Crescent City Orthopedics in Metairie, Chalmette, and Covington, Louisiana, specializes in treating your groin pain. We can diagnose your condition and provide healing options for your FAI.
In some cases, FAI might not show any symptoms. However, you might need treatment if you experience pain in your:
You might also feel a clicking sensation in your hip joint, causing difficulty with everyday occurrences, such as putting on your shoes, walking, and sitting for long periods.
Although FAI can occur from genetic and environmental factors, you can be even more at risk if you’re a young athlete. When a child’s bones haven’t fully matured, contact sports can make bone impingement worse.
When FAI goes untreated, you can develop arthritis in your hip.
When you come in for your appointment, we first test your hip’s range of motion since FAI can limit your flexibility considerably.
We may also perform X-rays, an MRI, and ultrasound imaging. Once you have an accurate diagnosis, we work with you to develop a customized treatment plan to help you get your quality of life back.
At Crescent City Orthopedics, we can treat your bone impingement surgically and nonsurgically.
Initial nonsurgical treatments include rest and rehabilitation. You may also need to reduce your activity level to maintain your hip strength. However, if your symptoms persist, surgery might be the best option.
Possible surgeries involve reshaping the top of your femur or socket to help them better fit together. Another option includes removing the offending bone to reduce additional injury to your joint and help diminish or eliminate your symptoms.
If you have a severe condition of FAI, you may need a hip replacement to alleviate your pain long-term.
To learn more about bone impingement and how we can provide relief, contact our team today. Call or book your appointment online, or let us set up a telemedicine appointment for you.
