MRI/CT in FAI

Abstract

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has become a well-recognized pathogenic factor in the evolution of hip osteoarthritis (OA). Impingement is secondary to anatomic abnormalities of the femoral head-neck junction and/or the acetabulum. These dysmorphisms lead to impaired, pathologic interaction of the femur with the acetabulum during motion of the hip joint, resulting in altered biomechanics, premature degeneration of hyaline cartilage, and eventually OA [1-5]. Given that impingement results from underlying structural aberrations, radiologic imaging is essential in the investigation of FAI. Imaging provides a visual presentation of the primary deformities of, as well as the secondary joint derangements that can result from, FAI, in both cam and pincer forms.