Bursitis - Hip

and Sabine Schrör, medical journalist

Fabian Dupont is a freelance writer in the medical department. The human medicine specialist is already doing scientific work in Belgium, Spain, Rwanda, the USA, Great Britain, South Africa, New Zealand and Switzerland, among others. The focus of his doctoral thesis was tropical neurology, but his special interest is international public health and the comprehensible communication of medical facts.

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Sabine Schrör is a freelance writer for the medical team. She studied business administration and public relations in Cologne. As a freelance editor, she has been at home in a wide variety of industries for more than 15 years. Health is one of her favorite subjects.

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If a patient is diagnosed with "bursitis - hip", various bursae may be affected. The two most common bursitis of the hip joint are trochanteric bursitis on the outside of the hip and iliopectineal bursitis in the groin. Patients experience pain that occurs after increased exertion and worsens with movement. Read more about bursitis - hip!

ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. M70M71

Bursitis - hip: trochanteric bursitis

This hip bursitis is one of the three most common bursitis in humans. Women are affected slightly more often than men. Obesity also plays a role in the development of trochanteric bursitis.

The thighbone (femur) has a large, rough bone protrusion (large roll mound) on the outside. A strong stabilizing band (iliotibial tract) runs over this. When walking or running, an intervening bursa prevents friction between the ligament and the protruding bone.

Symptoms of trochanteric bursitis

If this bursa is inflamed and swollen, the stabilizing tape rubs against it with every step. The patient feels the typical movement-dependent pain on the outside of the hip. They occur particularly when the leg is spread apart and the hips are rotated externally. Sometimes they also radiate into the buttocks and knees. Any prolonged pressure on the bursa (for example when lying on the affected hip) is perceived as uncomfortable or painful by most of those affected. The swelling of the bursa cannot necessarily be seen from the outside, however, as the hip joint is covered by many large muscles.

Causes of trochanteric bursitis

Possible causes of trochanteric bursitis are, for example, underlying diseases such as rheumatism. More often, this bursitis is caused by physical overload (for example in long-distance runners). It also occurs with different leg lengths, with bursitis developing on the longer leg.

Sometimes trochanteric bursitis develops as part of what is known as coxa saltans ("snapping hip"). This means the jumping back and forth of the stabilizing band (iliotibial tract) over the large rolling hillock (greater trochanter). This jumping ligament is mostly noticed by the patient himself and sooner or later often leads to bursitis (hip). The "hip snap" can be felt and sometimes even seen from the side while walking. Young, slim girls and women are particularly affected.

Bursitis - hip: iliopectineal bursitis

The iliopectineal bursa is the largest bursa in the human body. It lies under the hip flexor muscle (iliopsoas) deep in the hip. Bursitis in this region is less common. When they occur, they are usually the result of physical overload. Since the bursa is very deep, swelling is usually not visible. However, pain occurs when pressure is applied to the groin or when the hips are excessively stretched.

Since the iliopectineal bursa can be connected to the hip joint, the inflammation can spread to the joint. The reverse mechanism is also possible - a hip joint inflammation spreading to the bursa. For this reason iliopectineal bursitis can be a sign of a real joint disease and should therefore be further investigated.

Bursitis - Hip: Therapy

Regardless of whether bursitis affects the hips or other parts of the body, the treatment is generally very similar. In the case of acute complaints, it is advisable to take it easy, which means that further irritation of the bursa should be avoided as much as possible. Anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) also have a soothing effect on the symptoms. Physiotherapy and shock wave therapy can accelerate regeneration. However, they cannot eliminate a structural cause of the inflammation (such as a "snap hip").

If the symptoms do not go away, the doctor can remedy the situation with a cortisone injection into the bursa. If the bursitis recurs, surgery should be considered. In the case of coxa saltans, an operation is the most promising option in the long term.

In general, the following applies: With every bursitis (hip or elsewhere), accompanying injuries and diseases, such as bacterial colonization of the bursa, must be ruled out before therapy is started.

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