Longitudinal Follow-up of Male Soccer Players Prone to Developing CAM Hip Deformity

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a clinical problem in which abnormal contact occurs between the thighbone and the hip socket. In intensive, mostly still young, male athletes, this problem seems to be related to a bony deformity on the head of this thighbone, a so-called CAM. FAI itself gives rise to pain symptoms, but in time can even lead to premature osteoarthritis. However, the cause of a CAM deformity itself, nor how FAI then arises, is insufficiently known. In view of FAI prevention and its better treatment, this project thus tries to better understand the underlying mechanisms. For this purpose, we will combine detailed biomechanical evaluations of specific movement patterns with advanced medical imaging and state of the art clinical evaluations to longitudinally follow up a group with a known high risk of developing a CAM deformity, being young male elite soccer players. Findings within this study will be additionally compared with similar analyses performed in patients with FAI. This research aims to thus form a basis to define novel (sports-specific) training schemes for the prevention of FAI, but also to define the actual treatment and rehabilitation plans in more patient-specific and a better-informed way.

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Key information

Conditions

Femoro Acetabular Impingement CAM Femoracetabular Impingement Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Age range

12 year–17 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Leuven Hospitals

Leuven, Flanders, 3000, Belgium

About this study

This is a longitudinal follow-up study in which subjects are invited for data collection twice, the baseline time-point and the two years time-point.

Population:

12-16 years old male soccer players (40 elite level players , and 40 recreational level players)

In both data collection time-points the following measurements are preformed:

Clinical screening of hip joint
Radial MRI of bilateral hips
Biplanar and conventional x-ray Imaging of hip and pelvic region
Athlete-specific 3D motion analysis
Questionnaires on injury history and physical activity levels.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

For the the Elite Group: Playing soccer at high level and training for more that 10 hours a week
For the Control group: Playing soccer or any other sport recreationally for a less than 5 hours a week

Exclusion criteria

No prior history of major trauma or injury to the lower limbs and spine
No prior history of neurological conditions that can effect movement and mobility

Treatment and study plan

bi-planer radiography (EOS), Conventional radiography (Hip+pelvis)

Radiation

low dose radiation medical imaging to visualise the hip joint and lumbo-pelvic complex specifically.

Other names: Clinical Screening, Motion Analysis

Primary outcomes

The formation of CAM deformity on the anterior head-neck junction of the femur

Time frame: two years post baseline measurements

Detected using alpha angle on MRI/ Dunn's View x-ray

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven

Other

Collaborators

Johnson & Johnson

Registry information

Official study title

Integrated Longitudinal Research on the Etiology of CAM Deformity in Adolescent Male Elite Soccer Players and Matched Control

Acronym: CAM-FAI

Important dates

Study start: 2019
Primary completion: 2024
Study completion: 2024
First posted: Jun 5, 2020
Registry last updated: Apr 11, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed