The role of arthroscopic bursectomy in the treatment of trochanteric bursitis.

The use of arthroscopy to treat recalcitrant trochanteric bursitis is reported and its role in treating this common clinical entity is discussed. During a 7-year period, 27 patients underwent this procedure. All patients complained of recurrent lateral hip pain despite at least 2 localized injections with corticosteroids. Minimum follow-up was 1 year, and the cases of 22 patients were reviewed after 5 years. Twenty-three of the 27 patients had good or excellent results immediately following the procedure and experienced no complications. At 1 year, only 1 patient had experienced symptom recurrence, and at 5 years, only 2 patients had had recurrence. All patients except 1 were satisfied with their outcome. Arthroscopically performed trochanteric bursectomy is a minimally invasive technique that appears to be both safe and effective for treating recalcitrant pain syndromes.