eMedicine Specialties > Sports Medicine > Hip

Trochanteric Bursitis: Differential Diagnoses & Workup

Author: Patrick M Foye, MD, FAAPMR, FAAEM, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Co-Director of Musculoskeletal Fellowship, Co-Director of Back Pain Clinic, Director of Coccyx Pain (Tailbone Pain, Coccydynia) Service, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Coauthor(s): Todd P Stitik, MD, Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Acting Director of Sports Medicine, UMDNJ-New Jersey School of Medicine; Lead Physician, Practice Medical Director of University Hospital PM & R Clinic; Scott F Nadler, DO, Assistant Director of Occupational/Musculoskeletal Medicine, Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Director of Sports Medicine, University Hospital
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Sep 28, 2007

Differential Diagnoses

Femoral Head Avascular Necrosis
Femur Injuries and Fractures
Hip Fracture
Iliopsoas Tendinitis
Iliotibial Band Syndrome
Lumbosacral Radiculopathy

Other Problems to Be Considered

Osteoarthritis of the hip
Gluteus medius tendinitis
Gluteus medius partial tear

Workup

Laboratory Studies

  • Generally, laboratory studies are unnecessary.

Imaging Studies

  • If significant trauma is present, obtain radiographs of the hip and femur to assess for possible fracture(s).
  • If metastatic cancer is suspected (even in the setting of normal femur radiographic findings), a bone scan can be used to assess for lesions in the proximal femur.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) can potentially be used to differentiate between gluteus medius tendinitis and trochanteric bursitis in patients with GTPS.4

Procedures

  • Occasionally, diagnostic injection of local anesthetic into the trochanteric bursa may be helpful, particularly in an obese individual in whom the diagnosis is not yet certain.

More on Trochanteric Bursitis

Overview: Trochanteric Bursitis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Trochanteric Bursitis
Treatment & Medication: Trochanteric Bursitis
Follow-up: Trochanteric Bursitis
Multimedia: Trochanteric Bursitis
References
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References

  1. Clarke MT, Arora A, Villar RN. Hip arthroscopy: complications in 1054 cases. Clin Orthop Relat Res. Jan 2003;406:84-8. [Medline].

  2. Segal NA, Felson DT, Torner JC, et al. Greater trochanteric pain syndrome: epidemiology and associated factors. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. Aug 2007;88(8):988-92. [Medline].

  3. Lievense A, Bierma-Zeinstra S, Schouten B, et al. Prognosis of trochanteric pain in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. Mar 2005;55(512):199-204. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  4. Kong A, Van der Vliet A, Zadow S. MRI and US of gluteal tendinopathy in greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Eur Radiol. Jul 2007;17(7):1772-83. [Medline].

  5. Shbeeb MI, O'Duffy JD, Michet CJ Jr, O'Fallon WM, Matteson EL. Evaluation of glucocorticosteroid injection for the treatment of trochanteric bursitis. J Rheumatol. Dec 1996;23(12):2104-6. [Medline].

  6. Cohen SP, Narvaez JC, Lebovits AH, Stojanovic MP. Corticosteroid injections for trochanteric bursitis: is fluoroscopy necessary? A pilot study. Br J Anaesth. Jan 2005;94(1):100-6. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  7. Hofmeister E, Engelhardt S. Necrotizing fasciitis as complication of injection into greater trochanteric bursa. Am J Orthop. May 2001;30(5):426-7. [Medline].

  8. Brinker MR, Miller MD. The adult hip. Fundamentals of Orthopaedics. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1999:269-85.

  9. Green SM, ed. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories. Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2000. Loma Linda, Calif: Tarascon Publishing; 2000:11-2.

  10. Lennard TA. Fundamentals of procedural care. Physiatric Procedures in Clinical Practice. Philadelphia, Pa: Hanley & Belfus; 1995:1-13.

  11. McGee DJ. Hip. Orthopedic Physical Assessment. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1992:333-71.

  12. Olsen NK, Press JM, Young JL. Bursal injections. Physiatric Procedures in Clinical Practice. Philadelphia, Pa: Hanley & Belfus; 1995:36-43.

  13. Snider RK. Hip and thigh. Essentials of Musculoskeletal Care. 2nd ed. Rosemont, Ill: American Academy Orthopedic Surgeons; 1997:264-303.

  14. Snider RK. Injection and corticosteroids. Essentials of Musculoskeletal Care. 2nd ed. Rosemont, Ill: American Academy Orthopedic Surgeons; 1997:37-9.

  15. Steinberg JG, Seybold EA. Hip and pelvis. In: Steinberg GG, Akins CM, Baran DT, eds. Orthopaedics in Primary Care. 3rd ed. Baltimore, Md: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999:171-203.

  16. Young JL, Olsen NK, Press JM. Musculoskeletal disorders of the lower limbs. In: Braddom RL, ed. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1996:783-812.

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Further Reading

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Keywords

external snapping hip syndrome, lateral snapping hip syndrome, extra-articular snapping hip syndrome, greater trochanteric bursitis, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, GTPS, hip pain, thigh pain

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Patrick M Foye, MD, FAAPMR, FAAEM, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Co-Director of Musculoskeletal Fellowship, Co-Director of Back Pain Clinic, Director of Coccyx Pain (Tailbone Pain, Coccydynia) Service, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Patrick M Foye, MD, FAAPMR, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, Association of Academic Physiatrists, and International Spine Intervention Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Todd P Stitik, MD, Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Acting Director of Sports Medicine, UMDNJ-New Jersey School of Medicine; Lead Physician, Practice Medical Director of University Hospital PM & R Clinic
Todd P Stitik, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Association of Academic Physiatrists, Phi Beta Kappa, and Physiatric Association for Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Scott F Nadler, DO, Assistant Director of Occupational/Musculoskeletal Medicine, Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Director of Sports Medicine, University Hospital
Scott F Nadler, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Association, Association of Academic Physiatrists, North American Spine Society, and Physiatric Association for Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Craig C Young, MD, Associate Professor, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Community and Family Medicine, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Fellowship Director, Medical College of Wisconsin
Craig C Young, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, Phi Beta Kappa, and Wilderness Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Russell D White, MD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Truman Medical Center Lakewood
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Jon B Whitehurst, MD, Clinical Instructor of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine; Partner and Executive Board Member, Rockford Orthopedic Associates; Orthopedic Chairman, Rockford Memorial Hospital
Jon B Whitehurst, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Sherwin SW Ho, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Chicago
Sherwin SW Ho, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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