title: The Natural History of Femoroacetabular Impingement.
abstract: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a clinical syndrome resulting from abnormal hip joint morphology and is a common cause of hip pain in young adults. FAI has been posited as a precursor to hip osteoarthritis (OA); however, conflicting evidence exists and the true natural history of the disease is unclear. The purpose of this article is to review the current understanding of how FAI damages the hip joint by highlighting its pathomechanics and etiology. We then review the current evidence relating FAI to OA. Lastly, we will discuss the potential of hip preservation surgery to alter the natural history of FAI, reduce the risk of developing OA and the need for future arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, Hip Preservation Center, Rush University Medical Center , Chicago, IL , USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Kuhns
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, Hip Preservation Center, Rush University Medical Center , Chicago, IL , USA.
authors.forename: Alexander E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, Hip Preservation Center, Rush University Medical Center , Chicago, IL , USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Division of Sports Medicine, Center for Hip Preservation, New England Baptist Hospital , Boston, MA , USA.
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wuerz
keywords: FAI etiology; femoroacetabular impingement; hip arthroscopy; hip osteoarthritis; hip preservation surgery