A new operative approach to snapping hip and refractory trochanteric bursitis in athletes

This report concerns seven patients that had a painful hip due to snapping of the iliotibial band over the greater trochanter and resultant trochanteric bursitis, and whose symptoms were refractory to nonoperative treatment. An operative procedure that has not been previously described was performed. It involved the excision of an ellipsoid-shaped portion of the iliotibial band overlying the greater trochanter and removal of the trochanteric bursa. Five of the seven patients were evaluated at the time this report was prepared; the average length of followup was 55 months. Four were significantly improved or relieved of their symptoms, and the fifth was an operative failure with complete recurrence. This final patient underwent a second, more extensive partial excision of the iliotibial band, and was asymptomatic 1 year later. A review of the clinic records of the remaining two patients that could not be contacted revealed that they both had been doing well at their 6 month evaluation. For those patients with a symptomatic snapping hip and trochanteric bursitis unresponsive to conservative therapy, the procedure described is an effective method of treatment.