Prevalência de sinais radiográficos de impacto femoroacetabular em indivíduos assintomáticos e não atletas

Abstract

ObjectiveFemoroacetabular impact has been described as an anatomical variation of the proximal femur and/or acetabular border, causing impact on the hip joint. A portion of the population asymptomatic to the hip may present radiographic changes from femoroacetabular impact. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of these signs in asymptomatic and sedentary males. MethodsThis was a clinical, observational, primary, transverse, controlled study. Thirty‐two male volunteers aged 18‐40 years, asymptomatic in the hip, and sedentary, were selected from a university hospital's orthopedic emergency room. All patients underwent standard anteroposterior pelvic radiographs. Measurements of alpha angle, retroversion index, ischial spine signal, and posterior wall sign were analyzed. ResultsThe mean age was 29 years (18‐40). The prevalence of radiographic signs of AFI using an alpha angle of 67o was 53.1%; with an alpha angle of 82o, it was 31.2%. The mean alpha angle was 67o (52.4‐88.2o), with 35.9% of the hips classified as borderline and 6.3% as pathological. The mean alpha angle for the right side was 67.5o (52.5‐88.2o) and for the left, 66.6o (53.1‐86.9o). The mean retroversion index was 0.048 (right side, 0.044; left side, 0.052). The spine signal was positive in 15.6% and the posterior wall sign, in 20.3%. ConclusionThis study showed that the prevalence of radiographic signs in a population of asymptomatic and sedentary adult men was high (31.2%). New studies are required to clarify the actual clinical significance of this finding.