Warwick Agreement

The Warwick Agreement on femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAI syndrome): an international consensus statement.

Griffin DR, Dickenson EJ, O'Donnell J, et al. British journal of sports medicine 2016 · PMID 27629403 · doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-096743

Question

How should FAI syndrome be defined, diagnosed and treated?

Design

International multidisciplinary consensus meeting held at Warwick, informed by evidence review.

Patients

International multidisciplinary panel drawn from several specialties and countries, plus a patient representative.

Intervention

Consensus definition and diagnostic criteria for FAI syndrome

Comparison

None (consensus statement)

Primary outcome

Agreed definition and diagnostic and treatment recommendations

Key result

Defined FAI syndrome as a motion-related clinical disorder requiring a triad of symptoms, clinical signs and imaging findings (cam or pincer morphology); morphology alone without symptoms is not FAI syndrome.

Limitations

Expert consensus rather than primary evidence; some recommendations preceded the RCT evidence.

Impact on practice

Established the 'triad' definition used in UK practice and trials, so that asymptomatic cam or pincer morphology is not labelled or treated as disease; supports conservative care, rehabilitation or surgery as treatment options.