Gluteus medius tears of the hip: a comprehensive approach

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is a common clinical condition that can affect a wide range of patients. Historically, the condition has been associated with trochanteric bursitis. More recently, however, a growing body of literature has demonstrated gluteus medius tendinopathy and tearing is present in many cases of GTPS. Pathology of the gluteus medius can result in significant hip pain, loss of motion, and decreased function. Affected patients characteristically have symptoms including lateral hip pain and a Trendelenburg gait, which may be refractory to conservative management such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, and injections. In these cases, both open and arthroscopic repair techniques have been described, with recent literature demonstrating excellent patient-reported outcomes. We present a comprehensive review of gluteus medius tears including relevant anatomy, clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment options.