The radiographic morphology of femoroacetabular impingement (femoroacetabular impingement) is common in elite athletes, and particularly in contact sports. It appears, however, that many sporting activities have their own distinct characteristics.
A new study has brought out the specific radiographic features seen in football players with femoroacetabular impingement, since there is a lack of data on them in the international literature. The study reported in detail on the patients' demographic data, as well as on the clinical and radiographic characteristics of a large cohort of football players who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement.
A data archive from a specialist hip surgery centre was examined, covering 3,318 consecutive hip arthroscopies performed for femoroacetabular impingement between 2010 and 2016. The study was carried out retrospectively, specifically for patients identified as footballers. The patients' demographic data, the characteristics of the injury and the clinical and radiographic features were analysed.
In all, 421 hips (336 football players) were assessed, comprising 257 men and 164 women. Of these, 105 were elite athletes, 194 were of competitive level, 75 were classed as recreational athletes, while 47 reported no level of activity at all. The majority of patients reported chronic hip pain lasting more than six months, with no history of acute injury to the joint. Radiographic features such as the alpha angle, the centre-edge angle and femoral version on computed tomography were analysed.
The investigators concluded that female football players were more likely to have less severe clinical and radiographic features than men. Acute injury as a cause of hip pain was more likely in elite athletes.
The study also found differences in relation to sex and level of sporting activity, and also as regards physical examination and imaging features. These data can better guide clinicians in the diagnostic assessment of symptomatic footballers with femoroacetabular impingement, so that the best possible treatment can be offered to them.
Source: “The American Journal of Sports Medicine”, September 2020
