SHC & Family: HIP PRESERVATION: Journey to Freedom

Hip Patient Daffynitions

This is a personal compilation of definitions located across the internet from journal articles, books, and other scholarly sources and my own understandng of these issues. Accuracy is implied…but not guaranteed! =)

Something missing you think is important (like how SCFE’s can lead to CAM FAI)? Email me to let me know…I’ll add it in.

anterior- front
posterior-back
lateral-outside
medial-inside/middle
inferior-bottom
superior-top

acetabulum– the large cup-shaped cavity at the junction of pelvis and femur or thigh bone in which the femoral head sits

femoral neck–the part of the femur that connects the femoral head to the femoral shaft

femoral shaft–the long bone of the femur that extends into the thigh

“C” sign-where a patient places their hand describing their hip pain, gripping above the greater trochanter with the thumb slightly posterior to the greater trochanter with extending the fingers to cover the anterior groin

crossover sign, cross-over sign (COS), figure 8 sign—an appearance on AP pelvic x-rays in which the anterior acetabular rim is projected laterally relative to the same point of the posterior rim in the superolateral aspect of the acetabulum, an indication of femoroacetabular impingement or acetabular retroversion. The anterior acetabular coverage and the posterior acetabular coverage can be seen “crossing over” one another on AP xrays.

acetabular retroversion–when the alignment of the mouth (opening) of the acetabulum does not face the normal anterolateral direction, but inclines more posterolaterally. The appearance of acetabular retroversion on an anteoroposterior radiograph of the pelvis is created by deficiency of the posterior wall of the acetabulum. The incidence of acetabular retroversion is believed to be one in three to one in six in patients with hip dysplasia. Considered a local overcoverage and a form of acetabular dysplasia, as opposed to a general overcoverage of the entire acetabulum as seen in coxa profunda. Can sometimes be seen in conjunction with lateral dysplasia. Can be a cause of impingement.

femoroacetabular impingement, femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI)–term first described in 1999 as a secondary issue after periacetabular rotational osteotomy for hip dysplasia. FAI describes either insufficient femoral head/neck offset, or what we refer to now as cam type impingement, or acetabular overcoverage, referred to as pincer type impingement. Can sometimes be seen in conjuntion with hip dysplasia.

hip dysplasia, congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH), developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)–detected in about 1-2 in 1000 births in the USA, a congenital disorder caused by the abnormal development of one or more of the components of the hip joint, resulting in hip joint instability and potential dislocation of the thigh bone from the socket in the pelvis. Typically referred to in reference to a lateral dyplasia, or lack of coverage, but can also include acetabular retroversion. The two entities can be sometimes seen together. Can also sometimes be seen in conjunction with femoroacetabular impingement.

coxa profunda–a global overcoverage of the acetabulum caused by acetabular depth being too deep, can be a cause of impingement