A 49-year-old male, who works as a production supervisor, presented to the orthopedic sports clinic reporting 3 months of left hip pain when ascending stairs and doing computer work, requiring prolonged sitting. His pain measures 5/10 on VAS. He also reports pain with driving and getting into and out of his car. He has a history of right hip arthroscopy for FAI 2 years ago, for which he underwent labral debridement and femoroplasty for large cam lesion. His symptoms improved greater than 80 %. He states that pain is similar in nature to his contralateral hip prior to surgery, and it is preventing him from doing yard work; it requires him to bend down.

His physical examination revealed a positive flexion impingement test and pain with circumduction of the hip. It also demonstrated FABER asymmetry and weakness in hip musculature manifested by positive step-down and bridge tests. Passive range of motion was limited to flexion of 100°, IR 20°, ER 40°, abduction of 45°, and adduction of 20°. Due to the fact that he had failed extensive nonsurgical options and was unable to perform his ADLs, decision was made to proceed with imaging and surgical intervention. He also received 90 % effective, but temporary relief from an intra-articular cortisone injection lasting only a few weeks.

Radiographs in Figs. 29.3 and 29.4 reveal extensive asphericity of his femoral head with significant cam lesion. His head–neck offset was significantly diminished and a minimal cross over sign. Lateral center-edge angle was measured at 24° with minimal joint space narrowing. Magnetic resonance imaging with contrast arthrography exhibited a manifestation of impingement via herniation pit on the lateral aspect of the femoral neck on the coronal images (Fig. 29.5). The axial images made it evident that the patient had a labral tear extending from anterior to superior (Fig. 29.6). Some mild adjacent chondral shearing was evident. Significant asphericity was again noted with decreased head–neck offset. Alpha angle was high and evidence of impingement was noted on the lateral aspect of head–neck junction.

Patient was taken to the operating room for hip arthroscopy via technique stated above. After capsulotomy and labral repair were performed under distraction, arthroscopy of the peripheral compartment with the hip reduced revealed significant cam lesion on the anterolateral aspect of the head–neck junction seen in Fig. 29.7. Areas of impingement were noted and quantified in this area on arthroscopic impingement test. Thus, cam lesion was removed utilizing a 5-mm-round burr while viewing from the anterolateral portal and working through the mid-anterior portal (Fig. 29.8). A critical step in fully appreciating and adequately resecting the entire lesion is to switch the viewing and working portals in order to obtain a different vantage point. Figure 29.9 demonstrates this and allows complete resection of the lateral gutter. Cam resection measured 5-mm deep and 35-mm wide from a medial 6 o’clock position to a lateral 12 o’clock position. Periodic dynamic examination was performed to indicate sufficient resection with no impingement.

After completion of femoroplasty, hip flexion is removed in neutral rotation and “T-capsulotomy” closure is performed with one nonabsorbable high-strength suture passed with a 90° suture-passing device and tied in a simple fashion (Figs. 29.10, 29.11, and 29.12).

The clinical history of reduced hip motion and increasing pain with deep-flexion activity coupled with prior success with contralateral side correction indicated imaging with MRI for this case. The MRI signs of articular chondral and labrum tearing in the anterior superior regions of the hip along with the femoral head asphericity were pertinent positives. Pertinent negatives included absence of severe subchondral cystic change and bone edema within the femoral head or acetabulum. The intraoperative decision making describes the importance of correlating preoperative imaging and exam findings with arthroscopic exam to adequately correct impingement.

A 17-year-old high school baseball player presented with bilateral hip pain, L>R, for the last 5 years that worsened with sports activity and twisting motions. He rated the pain as a 5/10 on a daily basis on the VAS. He had recently stopped participating in baseball due to his hip pain. The only relief from pain was rest from activities and anti-inflammatory medication.

On physical examination, there was no tenderness to palpation or crepitus. Both flexion impingement and posterior rim impingement tests were markedly positive. He also demonstrated a positive posterior rim impingement test. There was pain with circumduction of the hip. Patient also demonstrated weakness in hip musculature manifested by positive step-down and bridge tests. Patient’s passive range of motion was limited to flexion of 110°, IR 30°, ER 40°, abduction of 45°, and adduction of 20°. These symptoms with prolonged duration and recent regression in his chosen sport facilitated the decision to proceed with imaging studies and subsequent intervention.

Radiographs demonstrated asphericity of the femoral head in bilateral hips. When examining the left hip, it was evident in Fig. 29.13 on the frog leg radiograph that there was a large posterior cam lesion in addition to the standard anterolateral lesion causing classic FAI. The lateral center-edge angle was measured at 35° with maintained joint space [21]. Magnetic resonance imaging with contrast arthrography confirmed the presence of anterior and posterior cam lesions. It also suggested a large labral tear manifested by significant contrast visualized medial to the labrum (Figs. 29.14 and 29.15). Enhancement of the tear is secondary to the use of contrast to improve sensitivity and specificity.