The incidence of greater trochanteric pain syndrome (trochanteric bursitis) in patients with suspected femoroacetabular impingement assessed by magnetic resonance arthrography of the hip

The incidence of greater trochanteric pain syndrome was assessed in patients who underwent magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) of the hip for suspected femoroacetabular impingement.
The magnetic resonance arthrograms of one clinic were reviewed. The presence or absence of cam, pincer or mixed-form femoroacetabular impingement was recorded. The diagnosis of greater trochanteric pain syndrome was based on tendinopathy or tears of the gluteus medius or minimus, thickening of the fascia lata, and oedema or erosion of the bone at the trochanter. A subgroup analysis was carried out with respect to age and to the type of femoroacetabular impingement.
189 patients were included in the study. Femoroacetabular impingement was diagnosed in 133 patients, with cam-type morphology seen in 85 individuals, pincer type in 22 and the mixed form in 26. 72 patients had tendinopathy, 14 had erosion of the trochanter, 31 had trochanteric bursitis, 4 bone oedema, 3 thickening of the fascia lata, and the diagnosis of greater trochanteric pain syndrome was made in 74 patients. The association between normal hip morphology and greater trochanteric pain syndrome was significantly stronger than the association between femoroacetabular impingement and greater trochanteric pain syndrome. In those under 40 years of age, greater trochanteric pain syndrome showed a higher incidence in patients with a normal hip and in those with pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement. In those over 40 years of age, no difference was seen between patients with and without femoroacetabular impingement.
The authors concluded that greater trochanteric pain syndrome was seen more often in patients with normal hip morphology than in those with femoroacetabular impingement, particularly in patients under 40 years of age.
Source: “Radiological Medicine”, December 2016