Pearls and Pitfalls in the Management of Cam-Type Femoroacetabular Impingement: Deformity and Approach.

Overview

The arthroscopic treatment of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a technically demanding surgery, which has been shown to yield successful clinical outcomes, and improved hip biomechanics and range of motion and may also favorably alter the natural history of FAI-induced osteoarthritis. Assessing the presenting symptoms, clinical history, and physical examination findings can help to confirm the diagnosis of symptomatic cam-type FAI. Appropriate preoperative imaging studies are important in the characterization of cam-type deformities and often guide the decision between open and arthroscopic management. Although most cam-type FAI can be successfully managed using an arthroscopic approach, certain complex deformity patterns might best be addressed with surgical dislocation. Command of intraoperative techniques for exposure and instrumentation, as well as effective use of fluoroscopy, allows for consistent and reproducible cam deformity correction while minimizing complications.