Lateral Pain

Lateral hip pain (see Table 3) is usually associated with greater trochanteric pain syndrome, iliotibial band syndrome, or meralgia paresthetica. Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome is a relatively new term that includes greater trochanteric bursitis and gluteus medius pathology (Shbeeb 1996, Bird et al 2001). Trochanteric bursitis is a common cause of lateral hip pain, especially in older patients. However, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of 24 women with greater trochanteric pain syndrome (described as chronic pain and tenderness over the lateral aspect of the hip) found that 45.8% had a gluteus medius tear and 62.5% had gluteus medius tendonitis, calling into question how many of these patients actually have bursitis (LOE=4) (Bird et al 2001). Iliotibial band syndrome is particularly common in athletes. It is caused by repetitive movement of the iliotibial band over the greater trochanter. Meralgia paresthetica, an entrapment syndrome of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, is another cause of lateral hip pain that occurs more frequently in middle age. Meralgia paresthetica is characterized by hyperesthesia in the anterolateral thigh, although 23% of patients with this disorder also complain of lateral hip pain (Jones 1996).