Development of a three-dimensional detection method of cam deformities in femoroacetabular impingement

Objective The description of femoral head sphericity and related risk for femoroacetabularimpingement is currently limited to an angular estimate—the alpha angle—whose relevance and accuracy have been challenged. We developed a three-dimensional approach for both automated digital measurement of the alpha angle and the detection of camdeformities. Accuracy and diagnostic relevance of the alpha angle estimated by means of the oblique axial and multiple radial plane protocol were compared with the computed results.