Trochanteric Bursitis Treatment Options

Can trochanteric bursitis be treated without surgery?

The initial treatment for trochanteric bursitis does not involve surgery. Many individuals find relief with lifestyle modifications, including:

• Avoiding activities that worsen symptoms.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen and celecoxib, help reduce hip pain and hip inflammation.
• Using a cane or crutches to help with walking.
• Physical therapy to increase hip strength and flexibility. This can include stretching the hip joint, rolling therapy, and/or learning to use ice or heat to relieve pain.
• Injection to the greater trochanteric bursa may help with pain relief temporarily (months) or permanently. This involves injecting either a corticosteroid (a type of medication that helps reduce hip inflammation) or platelet rich plasma (PRP) to the lateral hip and affected bursa.

What are the surgical options for trochanteric bursitis?

Although rare, when nonsurgical trochanteric bursitis treatments do not relieve hip pain and hip inflammation, hip surgery is a reasonable option. Surgery would include either an open or arthroscopic greater trochanteric bursectomy. This is an outpatient procedure, and patients typically go home the same day of surgery. A greater trochanteric bursectomy does not affect the hip joint, and the hip can function without this bursa normally.

How long is the recovery after a greater trochanteric bursectomy?

The recovery time after trochanteric bursitis surgery can vary depending on several factors, including the extent of the surgery, individual patient characteristics, and the level of activity that the patient is striving to return to. So long as the surgery does not entail work on the gluteal tendons or hip labrum, then you will be able to put weight on the operative leg immediately following surgery depending on your pain. In general, most patients can recover full, unrestricted activity in 2-4 months following greater trochanteric bursectomy so long as they complete a good physical therapy program.

Treatment for trochanteric bursitis includes activity modification, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and corticosteroid injections. In rare cases, surgical bursectomy may be necessary if conservative treatments fail. Dr. Jorge Chahla provides a comprehensive approach to treating trochanteric bursitis. If you need relief from hip bursitis, contact his office in Chicago, Naperville, or Oak Brook for an evaluation.