Cam-type hip morphology in asymptomatic patients

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• The alpha angle is a key metric for assessing cam-type impingement.
• Recent research suggests elevated alpha angles can occur in asymptomatic individuals.
• This study investigates the prevalence and clinical relevance of cam-type morphology in a healthy population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of cam-type morphology in asymptomatic male volunteers.
• To explore the correlation between cam-type morphology and hip clinical/radiological parameters.
• To identify specific hip positions associated with cam-type morphology.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 48 asymptomatic males (96 hips).
• Physical examination and 1.5-T MRI of bilateral hips.
• Alpha angle measurement at four positions with two cut-off values (>55°, >60°).

Main Results:

• High prevalence of cam-type morphology observed, especially at the 1 o'clock position (up to 87.5% with >55° cut-off).
• Labral tears present in 27.1% and positive impingement tests in 12.5% of hips.
• No significant correlation found between cam-type morphology and hip range of motion, impingement tests, or labral tears.

Conclusions:

• Cam-type morphology is prevalent in asymptomatic males, most notably at the 1 o'clock position.
• No association was found between high alpha angles and symptomatic hip conditions (impingement/labral tears) in this cohort.
• Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of asymptomatic cam-type morphology.