"Pseudotrochanteric bursitis": the differential diagnosis of lateral hip pain

Eighteen patients who were initially diagnosed as having trochanteric bursitis refractory to conventional therapy are reported. The most common causes of pseudotrochanteric bursitis were lumbar radiculopathy (L2, L3), lumbar facet syndrome with pain referred to the lateral thigh, and entrapment neuropathies involving the subcostal, and the lateral cutaneous branches of the iliohypogastric nerves. Less common causes were undisplaced femoral neck fracture, adiposa dolorosa, and hip abductor muscle strain. Diagnosis was facilitated by selective neuroblockade.