Rotator Cuff Tears of the Hip

Pain over the lateral aspect of the hip commonly is attributed to trochanteric bursitis. Typical findings include local tenderness and weakness of hip abduction. When conservative measures fail to relieve symptoms, surgical release of the iliotibial band over the greater trochanter has been recommended. In the management of seven such patients, an unusual finding was encountered: partial tear of the gluteus medius tendon at its attachment to the greater trochanter. Each patient presented with increasing hip pain of duration of months to years. There were no diagnostic findings on physical examination. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an abnormal signal within the tendon of gluteus medius and fluid within the trochanteric bursa. The disrupted tendons were reattached to bone with heavy nonabsorbable suture. At a median followup of 45 months (range, 21–60 months), all patients were free of pain.