What is the typical presentation of trochanteric bursitis?

What is the typical presentation of trochanteric bursitis?

• A. Pain over the lateral hip with tenderness, but no gross abnormalities or swelling
• B. Pain in the groin with joint swelling
• C. Pain in the knee with warmth
• D. Fever and morning stiffness

Answer: (A)

Pain over the lateral hip with focal tenderness over the greater trochanter, without swelling or systemic symptoms, is the typical presentation of trochanteric bursitis. This condition arises from irritation of the bursa over the greater trochanter, often related to overuse or strain of the hip abductors. Patients usually have point tenderness at the lateral hip, pain that worsens with lying on the affected side or with hip movements such as abduction and external rotation, and the rest of the hip and knee exam is often normal. This differs from groin pain with joint swelling, which points to intra-articular problems like hip osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis; knee pain with warmth suggests a different joint or referred pain; and fever with morning stiffness implies a systemic or inflammatory process rather than a localized bursa inflammation.

Pain over the lateral hip with focal tenderness over the greater trochanter, without swelling or systemic symptoms, is the typical presentation of trochanteric bursitis. This condition arises from irritation of the bursa over the greater trochanter, often related to overuse or strain of the hip abductors. Patients usually have point tenderness at the lateral hip, pain that worsens with lying on the affected side or with hip movements such as abduction and external rotation, and the rest of the hip and knee exam is often normal.

This differs from groin pain with joint swelling, which points to intra-articular problems like hip osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis; knee pain with warmth suggests a different joint or referred pain; and fever with morning stiffness implies a systemic or inflammatory process rather than a localized bursa inflammation.