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Hip Arthroscopy & Preservation

Hip Impingement (FAI) Surgery to Stop the Pinch and Protect Your Cartilage

What is FAI surgery for hip impingement?

FAI surgery is an arthroscopic procedure that reshapes extra bone on the ball (cam) or rim of the socket (pincer) so the hip stops pinching when it bends and rotates. It is typically combined with labral repair and is considered when hip impingement pain continues despite physical therapy and activity changes.

Femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI, means the ball and socket are shaped in a way that makes them bump together at the end of motion. A cam bump sits on the ball, a pincer overhang sits on the socket rim, and many people have both. Over time that contact can tear the labrum and wear the cartilage, often showing up as groin pain during deep squats, a golf follow-through or long drives.

Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Stride, MD, board-certified orthopedic surgeon
Last reviewed October 2026
Cyclist on a road bike

At a glance

Also called
hip impingement surgery, femoroacetabular impingement surgery, cam and pincer osteoplasty, hip osteoplasty
Typical recovery
Months 4 to 6
Ask about FAI Surgery →(713) 555-0168

Is FAI Surgery right for you?

Usually a good fit if

  • Groin pain with hip flexion and rotation, such as squatting, lunging or sitting in a low chair
  • A cam or pincer shape on X-ray that matches a positive impingement test
  • Symptoms that have not settled after about 3 months of therapy and activity changes
  • Athletes and active adults with healthy joint space on X-ray
  • A labral tear caused by the impingement

Another option may be better if

  • An impingement shape on X-ray without symptoms, which is common and usually needs no surgery
  • Hips that already show moderate or advanced arthritis
  • Pain driven mainly by the lower back, sacroiliac joint or outside-of-hip tendons

What happens, step by step

  1. Measuring the shape

    Specific X-ray views and often a CT scan or MRI let Dr. Stride measure the bump and the socket coverage, including the alpha angle and center-edge angle. The exam includes the FADIR test, range of motion in both hips and a check of the lower back.

  2. Trying therapy first

    A therapist works on hip control, core strength and smart movement changes, such as avoiding deep loaded squats for a while. Many people get enough relief here to skip surgery.

  3. Arthroscopic reshaping

    During surgery, a small burr trims the cam bump on the femoral neck and the pincer overhang on the rim. The hip is moved through flexion and rotation under the camera to confirm the pinch is gone.

  4. Labral repair in the same session

    If impingement has torn the labrum, it is reattached to the rim before finishing, so the seal and the bone shape are both addressed.

Typical recovery timeline

First 2 to 4 weeks

Crutches with protected weight, daily stationary bike and gentle circles to keep scar tissue from forming. Hip flexion past 90 degrees is limited early.

Weeks 4 to 8

Normal walking and return to most desk and light-duty work. Strengthening ramps up in physical therapy.

Months 2 to 3

The elliptical, swimming and longer walks. Bone that was reshaped is protected from heavy impact during this window.

Months 4 to 6

Running, golf, pickleball and lifting return gradually for most patients. Deep loaded squats are often the last thing to come back.

Timelines are typical ranges. Your plan depends on your hip, your health and what was done in surgery.

“Impingement is a bone shape problem, so stretching alone will not fix a bump. That said, I see plenty of hips with that shape that do great with good therapy. Surgery is for the hip that keeps telling you no.”

Dr. Stride, MD

Frequently asked questions

What causes hip impingement?

Hip impingement usually comes from bone shape that develops during the teenage growth years, often in kids who were very active in sports. It is common, and many people with an impingement shape never have pain.

Can you fix FAI without surgery?

Physical therapy, activity changes and sometimes an injection relieve symptoms for many people with FAI. These steps do not change the bone shape, so surgery is considered when pain keeps returning despite good care.

What sports are hard on hips with FAI?

Activities with deep hip flexion and rotation tend to provoke FAI, including hockey, soccer, martial arts, dance, golf and heavy squatting. Adjusting form and range often helps more than quitting outright.

Is FAI surgery worth it?

For people with clear impingement, a labral tear and healthy cartilage, FAI surgery often reduces pain and improves function. It is a poorer choice once arthritis has set in, so X-rays and an honest exam guide the decision.

Related treatments

Preservation

Hip Arthroscopy

Hip arthroscopy is an outpatient surgery that uses a small camera and slim instruments, placed through two or three small incisions, to treat problems inside the hip joint.

Read more →Preservation

Hip Labral Repair

Hip labral repair is an arthroscopic surgery that reattaches a torn labrum, the ring of cartilage around the hip socket, using small anchors.

Read more →Diagnosis

Hip Exam & Gait Analysis

A hip exam with an orthopedic hip specialist is a hands-on check of range of motion, labral and impingement signs, tendon strength and walking pattern.

Read more →Non-surgical

Hip Physical Therapy

Physical therapy helps many types of hip pain, including arthritis, gluteal tendinopathy, hip impingement and many labral tears.

Read more →Compare

Arthroscopy vs Replacement

Hip arthroscopy and hip replacement treat different problems.

See the comparison →Compare

Surgery vs Physical Therapy

Many hip labral tears improve with physical therapy and activity changes, so a structured therapy trial of about 3 months usually comes first.

See the comparison →

Hip pain this can help with

Hip pain · Front of hip

Pain in the Front of the Hip and Groin

Front of hip and groin pain usually comes from inside the hip joint itself.

Causes & treatment →Hip pain · symptom

Hip Stiffness and Loss of Motion

A stiff hip is most often caused by hip osteoarthritis, which reduces rotation and makes socks, shoes and getting out of a car harder.

Causes & treatment →
From the Hip Health Library

Questions patients ask about this

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Pain & Warning Signs

Groin Pain When Walking: Is It Your Hip?

Groin pain when walking very often comes from the hip joint itself.

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Tears & Injuries

Hip Impingement (FAI) Symptoms in Active Adults

Hip impingement usually causes a deep ache or sharp pain in the groin, sometimes toward the outside of the hip.

6 min read Read
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Active Hips

Hip Pain From Golf: Lead Hip, Trail Hip and How to Keep Playing

Golf hip pain usually comes from the rotation the swing demands.

5 min read Read
SourcesReferences used for this page3

Medically reviewed by Dr. Stride, MD against current guidance from these sources. Last reviewed October 2026. How we write and review content

  1. Femoroacetabular Impingement (opens in a new tab) AAOS OrthoInfo
  2. Hip Arthroscopy (opens in a new tab) AAOS OrthoInfo
  3. Hip Labral Tear: Symptoms & Treatment (opens in a new tab) Cleveland Clinic
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