Bilateral Gluteus Maximus Tendon Tear Following an Apparently Low-Impact Trauma: A Case Report

Gluteus maximus tendon tear is an uncommon condition, probably due to the stout nature of its tendon structure as well as the potential for this type of injury to be overlooked by the attending healthcare worker. We present a case of bilateral gluteus maximus tendon tear in an 89-year-old female patient who presented with severe right buttock pain radiating to her right hip, groin, and thigh that started after sitting heavily on a stool. The bilateral tendon tear was discovered when she had a magnetic resonance imaging scan performed to rule out any occult hip or pelvic fracture that may have been missed during a previously performed X-ray and computed tomography scan. This case illustrates the importance of thorough history taking and examination and having a heightened sense of awareness when it comes to gluteus maximus tendon tear in a patient presenting with persistent traumatic pelvic or hip pain despite no fracture demonstrated on initial imaging.