Trochanteric Bursitis
Trochanteric bursitis (lateral hip pain syndrome) is a common condition that causes pain over the side of the hip. It is more common in females and can occur after trauma, surgery or sometimes without any identifiable cause. The trochanteric bursa is a small fluid filled sack that protects and cushions the underlying bone and allows the muscles and tendons to glide smoothly over it. When it becomes inflamed it can be painful when muscles and tendons move over it and sometimes this can compound the inflammation.
Symptoms
- Pain on the side of the hip, particularly noticible when lying on affected side and can cause you to wake during sleep
- Pain when swinging leg out to the side
- Catching symptoms during flexion of the hip
Treatments
The mainstay of treatment is nonoperative in nature and surgery is rarely required.
Non-operative
- Physiotherapy
- Physio treatment is mainly directed towards strengthening of the muscles around the hip, an assessment and correction of any gait abnormalities and stretching of the iliotibial band
- Targeted steroid and local anaesthetic injections
- The steroid within the injection will address the inflammation within the trochanteric bursa and allow a reduction in inflammation and symptoms. This will allow you to progress through your physio rehab more easily with less pain.
- Shockwave Therapy
- Shockwave therapy is pulsed sound waves transmitted to the inflamed bursa. It causes the underlying tissue to improve vascularity and promote the healing response within the inflamed area.
Operative
- Abductor tendon repair
- In some persistent cases of lateral trochanteric pain the cause can be due to a tear within the abductor muscles. This can be visualised by ultrasound or MRI scan. If this is the case a repair to the torn abductor tendon can be performed