Biomechanical Assessment of Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of FAI abnormalities on hip joint biomechanics.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Femoro Acetabular Impingement

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to quantify hip biomechanics of subjects with and without FAI.

The results of this study will advance our understanding of how the FAI alters the biomechanics of the hip joint, improving diagnosis and directing treatment strategies.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 36

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Utah
    • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84108
      • University of Utah Orthopaedic Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Normal subjects and subjects with femoroacetabular impingement.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who present with hip pain subsequently diagnosed as femoroacetabular impingement
• Subjects who meet the following radiographic criterion of cam or pincer FAI, will be given the opportunity to volunteer in this study.
• Subjects that demonstrate a cross-over-sign or a lateral center edge angle (LCEA) without an alpha angle, will be classified as having pincer FAI.
• Subjects with an alpha angle, without a cross-over sign or LCEA, will be categorized as having cam type FAI.
• Finally, with at least one cam (alpha angle) and pincer sign "cross-over-sign or a lateral center edge angle (LCEA)" will be classified as mixed FAI.

Control Population Inclusion Criteria:

• 12 controls will consist of volunteers in the same age range as the subject groups (18-35 years).
• Control hips will be screened with a standard AP radiograph. Normal volunteers who have radiographic evidence of FAI, dysplasia or other joint deformities will be excluded.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects who have radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis (Tonnis Grade III or IV) will be excluded as this study focuses on the mechanics of hips before prominent cartilage damage.
• Subjects who have had prior procedures to correct FAI or other hip conditions will be excluded (exploratory procedures will be included).
• Minors (under age 18), mentally disabled, persons incarcerated, on parole, probation awaiting trial, or pregnant women are excluded from this study.
• A human Chorionic Gondaotropin (hCG) urine pregnancy test will be performed on all women prior to the study.
• To limit the annual radiation exposure to any participating volunteers, we will exclude anyone who has had a CT scan or participated in a research study involving ionizing radiation in the past 12 months.

Motion Capture Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects who are unwilling or unable to perform the proposed activities of daily living or undergo the clinical exams will be dismissed.
• Subjects with a BMI less than 30 (www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/) or those with dense hip musculature/wide hips (maximum of 42 cm of circumferential hip length) will be excluded.

CT Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects who are unwilling or unable to remain still.
• Subjects who are allergic to contrast agent and/or lidocaine will be dismissed.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Data Collection	We will calculate hip joint kinematics. Statistical analysis of the results will allow comparisons between normal and FAI subjects.	Follow-up Visit

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Utah
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Andrew Anderson, Orthopedic Surgery Operations

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 6, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 11, 2012
• First Posted (Estimated): April 12, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): January 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 7, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Joint Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Femoracetabular Impingement
• Other Study ID Numbers: 51053

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No