title: Treatment of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  the aim of this study was to evaluate preliminary clinical and radiographic results of arthroscopic treatment of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).
  
  
  METHODS
  thirty-eight patients underwent hip arthroscopy for cam-type FAI between 2009 and 2012. Preoperative assessment was based on clinical examination, modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and radiographic examination with anteroposterior pelvis, frog-leg and Lequesne views. The patients' clinical conditions at follow-up were assessed using the mHHS administered as a telephone survey. Radiographic outcome measurements evaluated pre and postoperatively were the alpha angle and femoral head-neck offset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the patients were clinically evaluated at a mean follow-up of 36 months. Radiographic follow-up was performed at an average of 12.7 months. Thirty of the 38 patients (79%) were satisfied with the results of the arthroscopic procedure. A total of nine patients subsequently underwent a total hip replacement. All 30 patients who declared themselves satisfied recorded an mHHS increase; in particular, the mHHS increased from a mean of 52.9 preoperatively (range: 27.5-82.5) to a mean of 85.6 postoperatively (range: 45.1-100.1). Three significant differences between the two groups of patients (satisfied and not satisfied) were recorded: mean age, alpha angle and BMI were all significantly greater in the patients who were not satisfied with the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  a crucial aspect in order to obtain good clinical outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of cam-type impingement is correct selection of patients who are likely to benefit from this kind of surgery. Hip arthroscopy should be avoided in patients aged over 50 years with risk factors for early osteoarthritis (high BMI and a significantly increased alpha angle).
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV, therapeutic case series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Hospital Santa Maria of Borgotaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiorentino
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Hospital Santa Maria of Borgotaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontanarosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Hospital Santa Maria of Borgotaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cepparulo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Hospital Santa Maria of Borgotaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guardoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Hospital Santa Maria of Borgotaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berni
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Hospital Santa Maria of Borgotaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coviello
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Hospital Santa Maria of Borgotaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guardoli
keywords: alpha angle; cam-type impingement; femoroplasty; hip arthroscopy