Javad Parvizi, MD, FRCS, Michael Leunig, MD and Reinhold Ganz, MD

Dr. Parvizi is Associate Professor, Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Leunig is Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Balgarist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. Dr. Ganz is Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Balgarist University Hospital.

None of the following authors or the departments with which they are affiliated has received anything of value from or owns stock in a commercial company or institution related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article: Dr. Parvizi, Dr. Leunig, and Dr. Ganz.

Reprint requests: Dr. Parvizi, Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 925 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

Evidence is emerging that subtle morphologic abnormalities around the hip, resulting in femoroacetabular impingement, may be a contributing factor in some instances to osteoarthritis in the young patient. The morphologic abnormalities result in abnormal contact between the femoral neck/head and the acetabular margin, causing tearing of the labrum and avulsion of the underlying cartilage region, continued deterioration, and eventual onset of arthritis. Nonsurgical treatment typically fails to control symptoms. Surgical management involves dislocation of the hip (while preserving the blood supply to the femoral head) and femoroacetabular osteoplasty. Encouraging results have been reported following femoroacetabular osteoplasty and arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement.