Problems With Large Joints: Hip Conditions

Abstract

Common overuse injuries of the hip include greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) and coxa saltans (ie, snapping hip). GTPS, previously called trochanteric bursitis, is a regional chronic pain syndrome. Etiologies include gluteal tendinitis or tendinosis, gluteal muscle or tendon tears, bursitis, meralgia paresthetica, iliotibial band disorders, and referred osteoarthritis pain. Treatment typically consists of activity modification and physical therapy (PT). Snapping hip can have multiple etiologies. Extra-articular etiologies include iliotibial band syndrome and iliopsoas snapping. Patients typically are treated with activity modification and PT. Intra-articular snapping usually is the result of chondral or acetabular labral injuries, and may require surgical intervention. Femoroacetabular impingement is an emerging etiology of hip pain. Patients commonly report anterior hip or groin pain with insidious onset. It results from cam-type impingement from an irregular shape of the femoral head-neck junction, pincer-type impingement from the acetabulum, or mixed-type impingement resulting from a combination of abnormalities. This atypical morphology can lead to labral tears or chondral injuries, which may manifest as painful clicking or popping. Treatments range from conservative, including activity modification, anti-inflammatory drugs, and PT, to surgical correction of the atypical morphology and addressing labral or chondral damage when present.