Extract
Spontaneous avulsion or rupture of the gluteus medius and minimus tendons
may be an unrecognized source of debilitating pain in the lateral part of the
hip1-3.
Because of the difficulty in diagnosing the condition on the basis of routine
history and physical examination, patients who present with ruptures of the
gluteus medius or minimus tendons are often diagnosed as having greater
trochanteric pain syndrome, which is a term used to denote trochanteric
bursitis1,4.
Patients with pain in the lateral part of the hip are often treated for
bursitis, and therefore a ruptured tendon may go undiagnosed. As radiographic
findings are generally absent, it may be necessary to acquire magnetic
resonance images to make an accurate
diagnosis2,5-7.