2012 AAOS/ORS Femoroacetabular Impingement Research Symposium

Over the past decade, major advances in elucidating the pathophysiology of hip osteoarthritis (OA) have occurred. Most importantly, the profound etiological role of FAI has come to the forefront. Although OA symptoms will not develop in all hips with radiographic FAI morphology, early detection of disease and interventions to prevent or halt disease progression and preserve the natural hip joint are the focus of future treatment innovations. OA is a leading cause of reduced quality of life and loss of function and lower extremity OA is particularly common and costly. The number of total hip arthroplasty procedures is expected to increase by 200 percent over the next two decades, and these procedures are coming under closer scrutiny in efforts to hold down healthcare costs. Innovative strategies are needed to more effectively prevent, diagnose, and treat OA. The 2012 AAOS FAI symposium will emphasize a multidisciplinary approach and will focus on summarizing current knowledge, developing consensus and identifying research strategies for several key issues related to the condition.