Editorial Commentary: The Warrior Athlete: An Illustrative Microcosm in the War Against Hip Femoroacetabular Impingement.

Abstract

From an orthopaedic perspective, our military personnel truly are warrior athletes. Distilling the information available in these subjects provides an enlightening microcosm of the management of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Symptoms associated with damage caused by FAI represent the culmination of a process present since childhood. Thus, while arthroscopic correction can result in significant improvement, it does not invariably result in full restoration of function. Numerous factors influence an individual's response to injury and recovery from surgery, including subjective parameters such as resiliency. Thus, function is not always based simply on objective parameters. In view of compelling literature to support the efficacy of arthroscopic correction and treatment of FAI, servicemen and women have historically been discriminated against by unilateral lack of coverage. This trend has only partly been reversed as it is now deemed acceptable for active-duty personnel but arbitrarily not for their dependent family members. The war on FAI goes on in terms of better understanding of the FAI enemy, better techniques and technology to use during the war, and better solicitation of the homeland resources for continuing this important battle.