What is a common surgical treatment for FAI with labral tear?

• A. Total hip arthroplasty
• B. Arthrodesis
• C. Open dislocation hip repair
• D. Hip arthroscopy with labral repair and correction of CAM/pincer lesions

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that treating FAI with a labral tear focuses on both soft tissue repair and correcting the underlying bony abnormalities that cause impingement. Hip arthroscopy is the common approach because it lets the surgeon directly visualize the joint, repair or preserve the labrum to restore the suction seal and stability, and address the impinging bone—reshaping the CAM lesion on the femoral head-neck junction and trimming any pincer overgrowth on the acetabulum. When the labrum is reparable, preserving and reattaching it yields better joint sealing and function than debridement alone, while correcting the deformities reduces painful contact and slows further damage. This minimally invasive method often offers faster recovery, less morbidity, and good outcomes for younger patients without advanced osteoarthritis. In contrast, total hip arthroplasty is typically reserved for advanced joint degeneration, and hip fusion or open dislocation repairs are less commonly used today due to higher morbidity and less favorable functional results in this setting.