Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS)

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS), previously called trochanteric bursitis, is a common cause of hip pain but is often misdiagnosed as hip osteoarthritis (OA). Inflammation of the subgluteus maximus bursa is the most common cause of GTPS. Patients with hip OA and GTPS present with similar complaints of lateral hip pain (LHP), pain with weight bearing and pain on lateral hip palpation. The purpose of this study was to try and define GTPS and thus be able to differentiate between the two conditions. 

The authors found that patients with GTPS were more likely to have symptoms of LHP with no difficulty manipulating their shoes and socks, pain on palpation of GT and LHP with Flexion Abduction and External Rotation (FABER) test. These findings should help clinicians to better differentiate the two conditions thus allowing proper therapy to be initiated and less chance of misdiagnosis. Interestingly, of the 84 test subjects used in the study, 80 (90%) were women and it’s unclear how this affected the results as women have distinct anatomic differences from men e.g wider hips and greater Q angle, to name a few > from Fearon et al.; Br J Sports Med. (2012). All rights reserved to BJSM.