The surgical approach to refractory trochanteric bursitis.

This article identifies and describes a small group of patients with trochanteric bursitis for whom all modes of conservative therapy have failed. They are treated surgically by release of the ileotibial band, removal of trochanteric osteophytes and debridement of the gluteus maximus bursae. In this series all of the patients had satisfactory results and returned to near-normal function without significant complications.