Femoroacetabular impingement and classification of the cam deformity: the reference interval in normal hips.
OBJECTIVE
Most patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) have a cam deformity, which may be quantified by measuring the alpha angle and anterior offset ratio (AOR). Knowledge of what constitutes a "normal" alpha angle and AOR is limited. We defined the reference intervals of these measurements from normal hips in the general population.


METHODS
157 individuals from the general population were reviewed clinically and radiographically. 74 individuals with clinical evidence of hip disease or radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis (OA) were excluded, leaving a study group of 83 individuals (mean age 46 (22-69) years, 44 females) with normal hips. The alpha angles and AORs were measured from cross-table lateral radiographs taken in 15 degrees internal rotation. A validation study consisting of a cadaver study and a measurement reliability study was also performed.


RESULTS
The mean alpha angle was 48 degrees in men and 47 degrees in women. The mean AOR was 0.19, the same in men and women. Thus, sexes were combined to derive 95% confidence intervals for the population mean alpha angle (46-49 degrees ) and AOR (0.18-0.20). The 95% reference interval for the alpha angle was 32-62 degrees degrees, and for the AOR it was 0.14-0.24. The validation study confirmed that these measurements were resistant to a reasonable degree of variation in positioning and that the repeatability and reproducibility of the measurements was good.


CONCLUSIONS
These reference intervals indicate that clinically and radiographically normal hips may have alpha angles and AORs that have previously been considered "abnormal". The thresholds provided by this study will aid classification of individuals involved in longitudinal studies of FAI and OA, and may be of use to the practicing clinician in evaluating the young adult with hip pain.
Pollard
Thomas C B
TC
Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, NIHR Biomedical Research Unit, University of Oxford, and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust, Headington, Oxford, UK. Tom.Pollard@ndorms.ox.ac.uk
Villar
Richard N
RN
Norton
Mark R
MR
Fern
E Darren
ED
Williams
Mark R
MR
Simpson
David J
DJ
Murray
David W
DW
Carr
Andrew J
AJ
D000077:Acetabulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005270:Femur Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006615:Hip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D016916:Joint Deformities, Acquired / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult