What are CAM lesions
Sarah Cherry
Published Apr 14, 2026
A CAM lesion is the formation of extra bone on the head of the femur (ball) resulting in a ‘bump’. This extra bone can cause pain as it impinges with the acetabulum (socket) with joint movement.
What causes a cam lesion?
Current research suggests that these cam lesions develop during adolescence, often when the growth plates are open. Participating in certain physical activity may lead to conflict between the ball and the socket, stimulating the bone to grow and create the cam lesion.
Are Cam lesions painful?
Symptoms include groin pain, hip pain or low back pain. You may have severe pain while turning, twisting and squatting. You may experience a locking or clicking sensation within the joint, and pain after sitting for extended periods.
How do you treat CAM lesions?
Surgical treatment for a cam deformity can usually be done arthroscopically, a minimally invasive procedure using small incisions and specialized instruments. The goal of cam surgery, also called femoroplasty is to reshape the head and neck of the femur and remove the cam lesion or extra bone.What is a cam in your hip?
Cam. A cam impingement occurs when excessive bone grows at the edge of the femoral head, where it meets a part of the femur called the femoral neck. The excessive bone growth forms a bump, which can do one or both of the following: Prevent the femoral head from fully rotating in its socket.
Does Fai lead to hip replacement?
FAI is considered a possible risk factor for hip-joint arthritis. Having FAI increases the chance that you will ultimately need to have a total hip replacement surgery, particularly if you have a cam lesion—a bone spur on the ball of the ball-and-socket hip joint.
Is cam deformity hereditary?
Currently, there is no firm evidence that FAI is transmitted genetically. There is growing evidence that FAI, particularly cam-deformities, has a higher prevalence in athletes who performed at a high level during adolescence.
Why is it called cam deformity?
The first involves an excess of bone along the upper surface of the femoral head, known as a cam deformity (abbreviation for camshaft, which the shape of the femoral head and neck resembles). The second is due to an excess of growth of the upper lip of the acetabular cup and is known as a ‘pincer’ deformity.Can a cam impingement grow back?
Cam regrowth was noted in 4 hips of 4 patients in the SI group. No cam regrowth occurred in the bilateral cases. The rate of cam regrowth was significantly higher in the SI than in the SM group. All 4 patients with cam regrowth required revision surgery for the recurrence of impingement resulting from cam regrowth.
Can you claim disability for hip dysplasia?Hip dysplasia (DDH) claims. If your baby is born with Developmental Hip Dysplasia (DDH) and there is negligent failure to diagnose the condition by medical staff, you may be able to claim compensation for care and treatment and for potential physical problems in later life.
Article first time published onWhat is cam type?
Cam-type morphology occurs when an abnormally shaped femoral head/neck has a region of increased radius forming a bump or ridge (1). During motions of flexion and internal rotation, an increased amount of shear stress is placed on the labral cartilage by the abnormal contact with the enlarged femoral head/neck (2).
How do you fix camera impingement?
- Resting the affected hip.
- Modifying your activities to avoid moving the joint in a way that causes pain.
- Exercising as recommended by your doctor or physical therapist to strengthen the muscles that support the hip.
What causes hip to give out when walking?
Hip instability is a loose or wobbly hip joint that’s usually caused by problems with the ligaments (the bands of connective tissue that hold bones or joints together). In hip dislocation, the ball at the end of the thighbone is pushed out of the socket. This painful condition requires medical treatment.
What is a cam resection?
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition in which the bones of the hip joint grow abnormally and do not fit together properly. This leads to restricted hip movement and increased friction between the ball and socket of the hip joint resulting in damage to the joint.
Are you born with cam impingement?
The abnormality causes friction during movement and can damage the surrounding cartilage and labrum (cartilage that lines the hip socket). The abnormalities associated with FAI are usually present at birth. But they can develop later in life, especially during the teenage years.
What does Faber test indicate?
The FABER test is used to identify the presence of hip pathology by attempting to reproduce pain in the hip, lumbar spine or sacroiliac region. The test is a passive screening tool for musculoskeletal pathologies, such as hip, lumbar spine, or sacroiliac joint dysfunction, or an iliopsoas spasm.
What percentage of asymptomatic athletes have Cam deformities?
FAI morphology is common in asymptomatic volunteers. Interestingly, the cam deformity is more prevalent in asymptomatic athletes (37%–55%) compared with the general asymptom- atic population (23%) (92).
What are the signs and symptoms of hip impingement?
Stiffness in the thigh, hip, or groin. The inability to flex the hip beyond a right angle. Pain in the groin area, particularly after the hip has been flexed (such as after running or jumping or even extended periods sitting down) Pain in the hip, groin, or lower back that can occur at rest as well as during activity.
Does hip impingement get worse?
Over time, hip impingement symptoms can get worse. The labrum or the protective cartilage can incur damage, which can lead to arthritis. For this reason, hip impingement is considered a pre-arthritic condition as it accelerates the breakdown of cartilage, which is a hallmark feature of arthritis.
Can you sit on toilet after hip surgery?
After hip replacement surgery, you will need a raised toilet seat on your toilet at home. This is to make sure that your knees are not higher than your hips when sitting.
Is FAI hip dysplasia?
Both hip dysplasia and hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI) are, in fact, major causes of osteoarthritis in the young adult hip and often result in the need for surgical reconstruction or replacement of the joint (a procedure called arthroplasty) at a young age.
Is FAI a bone spur?
In FAI, bone overgrowth — called bone spurs — develop around the femoral head and/or along the acetabulum. This extra bone causes abnormal contact between the hip bones, and prevents them from moving smoothly during activity.
Can hip impingement cause arthritis?
Hip impingement, or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), occurs when the femoral head (ball of the hip) pinches up against the acetabulum (cup of the hip). When this happens, damage to the labrum (cartilage that surrounds the acetabulum) can occur, causing hip stiffness and pain, and can lead to arthritis.
What does it mean when you have a ball in your hip?
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), or hip impingement, is a condition where the ball of your thigh bone (femur) can’t move normally in your hip socket. This happens when there is too much bone around the ball (femoral head) or when the socket is angled slightly backward.
Does hip impingement cause popping?
If symptoms begin to occur, it usually means that there is some damage to cartilage or the labrum. Symptoms include a dull, aching pain in the groin that may get worse during movement and exercise, the sensation or sound of clicking or popping in the hip joint during movement, and stiffness in the thigh, hip, or groin.
What does CAM mean in orthopedics?
The CAM for (CAM comes from the Dutch word meaning “cog”) describes a shape of the ball (femoral head) that is aspherical or not perfectly round. This loss of roundness of the femoral head contributes to a damaging, abnormal contact between the head and socket.
Is having a total hip replacement considered a disability?
Those who have recently had a hip replacement may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. To qualify for disability benefits after a hip replacement, you must meet the SSA’s Blue Book listing outlining the specific medical qualifications. As stated, if you have received a hip replacement, you are not alone.
Is a bad hip a disability?
The Social Security Administration recognizes that certain medical conditions, such as chronic hip problems, may make it impossible to continue employment. Individuals with long-term illnesses can sometimes qualify for an Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) award.
Is a limp considered a disability?
WORKERS ARE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION FOR INJURIES CAUSING LIMP, SCARS, AMPUTATIONS, OR OTHER DISFIGUREMENTS. Insurance companies are required to pay permanent disability benefits to an employee whose work injury has caused permanent pain, partial or complete loss of use of a body part, or other permanent symptoms.
What does a cam do?
Cam is shorthand for camshaft, the engine part that opens and closes the valves to let the air-fuel mixture in and out of the combustion chambers. Every roadgoing production car engine has at least one, and many current engines have two or more.
What does Cam impingement mean?
Cam impingement occurs when the femoral head is not perfectly round and cannot rotate smoothly inside the acetabulum. It often results from a bump formed from excess bone growth at the end of the femur. During movement, the bump grinds the cartilage inside the acetabulum.