Gluteal-related lateral hip pain

Abstract

Introduction: Lateral hip pain (LHP) due to tendon pathologies of insertion of the M. gluteus medius and minimus at the greater trochanter are often misdiagnosed and may lead to unrecognised disability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pain and patient-reported outcomes in patients presenting with LHP in the context of a publicly financed healthcare system.

Methods: Data were collected from September 2017 to November 2020 at a regional teaching hospital. Inclusion criteria were clinical and MRI-verified hip abductor tendon pathology. Baseline testing included pain scoring (numerical rating scale, NRS), and the following patient-reported outcome scores: Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS), Oxford Hip Score (OHS) and EuroQol-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS).

Results: A total of 151 patients (94% women) with a median age of 55 years were included. The mean LHP (NRS 0-10) at rest, during activity and worst pain at any given time was 4, 7 and 9, respectively. The mean patient-reported outcome scores were HAGOS: pain 42.9, symptoms 49.8, activities of daily living 42.2, sport/recreation 28.1, participation in physical activities 25, quality of life 27.8; OHS 24; EQ-VAS 59.6.

Conclusions: We found that patients with hip abductor tendon pathology display poor patient-reported outcomes comparable to those of patients suffering from severe hip osteoarthrosis. Further research into this patient group is warranted. The results are based on a heterogeneous study population in terms of variety of hip abductor tendon pathology and comorbidities and need to be interpreted as such.

Funding: none.

Trial registration: According to current Danish law, no formal ethical approval was required for this study. The National Data Protection Agency approved the study (1-16-02-125-19).