Anatomy & function
Bursitis trochanterica describes an inflammation of a bursa in the area of the hip joint. This bursa, the trochanteric bursa, lies over a bony prominence of the thigh bone on the lateral hip (greater trochanter).
A bursa is filled with joint fluid (synovial fluid) and is located between the bone and muscles. This is intended to reduce the friction of the muscles against the bone as much as possible so that the muscles can glide optimally during movement. There are several bursae in the hip joint, with the trochanteric bursa being the most frequently affected.
Symptoms & complaints
Signs of trochanteric bursitis can include
- Redness, overheating and swelling of the skin
- Pain
- Limited mobility
In the case of bursitis, the overlying skin usually shows typical signs of inflammation. These include redness, overheating and swelling of the skin. Those affected also suffer from pain in the hip and/or groin, which occurs during movement and can radiate into the buttocks and thigh. This pain can also occur when lying on the affected side. The inflammation can also restrict the mobility of the hip joint.
In rare cases, the inflammation can spread to the whole body, which can manifest itself in a fever. In this case, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
Causes
Causes of trochanteric bursitis include
- High-impact sports
- Accidental (traumatic)
- Joint diseases, e.g. arthritis
Bursitis is often caused by overuse of the hip joint. This is particularly the case for young athletes who play so-called "high-impact sports". These include sports that put a lot of strain on the joints, e.g. soccer. This causes the bursa to become inflamed due to the constant irritation in the hip joint. An acute injury caused by an accident can also cause bursitis.
In older people, joint inflammation (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), which spreads to the bursa, is often responsible for bursitis.
Diagnosis
Our hip specialists will ask you about your symptoms in a detailed consultation (medical history). This will focus on the severity, nature and progression of your symptoms. A physical examination will then be carried out. In most cases, those affected have a typical constellation of findings , so that no further diagnostics are necessary.
If there is still uncertainty regarding the diagnosis, the inflamed bursa can be visualized in an ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. X-rays can also be used to detect accompanying bony injuries.
Treatment
Conservative therapy:
The following conservative therapies are possible:
- Drug therapy: analgesics
- Physical therapy: Cold
- Immobilization of the hip joint
Painkillers from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be used to relieve pain and at the same time inhibit the inflammatory reaction. Cooling pads also inhibit the inflammatory processes. Make sure that you do not place the cooling pad directly on the skin, but rather wrap it in a kitchen towel. Until the inflammation and pain have subsided, the hip joint should be spared and sport should be avoided.
Operation:
If the symptoms do not improve despite conservative measures or if the inflammation of the bursa keeps recurring, surgery may be necessary. However, this is only very rarely the case. The bursa is removed during arthroscopy (bursectomy).
Our hip specialists at the Orthozentrum Freiburg will be happy to advise you further in this regard.
Everything at a glance:
- Operation time: 30-60 min
- Anesthesia: General anesthesia
- Hospitalization: outpatient or inpatient
- Ready for work: after 2-4 weeks
- Return to sports (RTS): after 4 weeks
Aftercare
Patients should see their orthopaedic surgeon to check the wound and remove the sutures after the operation.