Editorial Commentary: Incremental Decompression of Cam Femoroacetabular Impingement Must Be Assessed in Real Time by Arthroscopic Dynamic Examination: Playbook for the Perfect Femoroplasty.

Abstract

The perfect femoroplasty varies with the individual patient's pathoanatomy and is a prime example of the art and science of surgery. Radiographs are two-dimensional representations of a three-dimensional reality and can miss detection of cam impingement. Cam impingement may occur without cam morphology as femoral retrotorsion and/or supraphysiological range of motion (e.g., dancers and martial artists) may cause cam impingement with normal α-angles and anterior offset. Acetabuloplasty or acetabular reorientation osteotomy may change the dynamic interaction between the proximal femur and acetabular rim and may alter the location and extent of cam decompression. Although much is discussed about the α-angle, restoration of anterior offset is also important. Incremental femoroplasty assessed in real time by arthroscopic dynamic examination is key, as the surgeon sculpts a nonimpinging proximal femur using a burr rather than a chisel in creating a customized surgical masterpiece.