Hip Impingement treatment: Treatment without surgery

If the damage to the bone and cartilage is not too severe, we will attempt to treat your condition conservatively. This can involve physiotherapy and medication.

Hip impingement surgery

An alternative to more major hip impingement surgery is hip joint arthroscopy. With this procedure, a small incision is made and a probe carrying a camera is inserted into the joint. This documents any damage such as a tear to the acetabular rim. Using minimally invasive surgical techniques, our surgeon is then able to repair the rim. Overgrowth of the cartilage or small deformities of the bone in the pelvis or on the femur can also be removed.

Diagnosis: How we diagnose hip impingement

In-depth consultation will be carried out regarding the pain you are experiencing followed, by a comprehensive physical examination. In addition, we perform imaging procedures such as X-rays and MRI scans.

Impingement of the hip: What types are there?

A distinction is made between two types of hip joint damage:

Pincer impingement:

Pincer impingement occurs when the femoral neck impinges on the edge of the acetabular cup. This occurs when the head of the femur (which itself may be completely normal in shape), doesn’t align correctly with the acetabular cup. When this happens, the femur reacts by producing additional bone material, which impinges on the rim of the cup with every hip flexion. In turn, this can cause labral damage as well as wear of the cartilage, ultimately resulting in pain with even the smallest of movements.

Cam impingement:

In this case, the femur is the cause. Bony thickening, or a “bump” in the area of the femoral neck causes the head of the femur to be pressed into the cup with every movement. The shearing forces experienced during rotational activity sports, such as ice hockey or football, then tear away the cartilage in the acetabular cup. In many cases, the larger or misshapen femoral head also damages the rim of the acetabular cup. If left untreated and ultimately bone rubs against bone, the joint wears away and arthrosis develops. The high forces involved also mean that the cartilage wears away faster than with pincer-type impingement. In most patients, doctors see an interim form of the condition somewhere between cam and pincer impingement.

Symptoms occur with hip impingement

It often begins with a deep-seated pain in the groin which occurs during for e.g. sport or after long car journeys. The patient is often no longer able to fully flex the thigh and general mobility of the hip can be restricted. Long periods of sitting often cause pain in the hip region.

Hip impingement specialists

Dr P. Arul Murugan – Orthopaedic Specialist

Dr Tan Chin Yik – Orthopaedic Specialist

Dr Kevin Yip – Orthopaedic Specialist