Snapping Hip Syndrome: Imaging Diagnosis

Snapping hip is a common cause of hip complaints, so radiologists should have it on their radar when involved in the workup and care of young patients with hip complaints, especially those whose symptoms are localized to the greater trochanter or iliopsoas. Although history and physical examination often suggest the correct diagnosis, imaging evaluation, including ultrasonography and MR imaging, is valuable to identify responsible extra-articular structures, assess for the presence of any concurrent intra-articular pathology, identify underlying anatomic variants that might necessitate alterations in surgical technique, and guide steroid injections.