Hip
Chondral Injuries and Defects
Chondral injuries and defects are damaged areas of the cartilage covering the hip joint (where the femur and socket of the pelvis join together). Cartilage is a tough, fibrous material that cushions stress placed on the hip joint and smoothes the movement of bones against one another. Unlike other tissues of the body, once cartilage is damaged, it cannot heal or regenerate itself.
Hip Pain
Hip pain describes pain in the femoral acetabular joint (hip joint) and/or other related muscles, nerves and connective tissue. Trauma, structural abnormalities, or repetitive stress can cause hip pain.
Femoral Acetabular Impingement (FAI)
Femoral Acetabular Impingement (FAI) is a condition that occurs with excessive friction in the hip joint. FAI is a result of the ball (femoral head) and socket (acetabulum) rubbing abnormally, resulting in damage to the hip joint. Impingement is often described as Cam, Pincer, or a combination of the two. These descriptions simply refer to the shape and alignment of the femoral head or the acetabulum.
Labral Tear
The labrum of the hip is a specific type of cartilage surrounding the outside of the ball and socket joints. Acting as an O-ring, the labrum helps stabilize the hip joint by deepening the hip socket. This results in enhanced flexibility and range of motion in the hip joint. With a torn labrum the stability of the hip is compromised and may lead to further joint damage.
