Response to: Rho et al. “Deconstructing Chronic Low Back Pain in the Older Adult-Step by Step Evidence and Expert- Based Recommendations for Evaluation and Treatment. Part VIII: Lateral Hip and Thigh Pain”

Abstract

It was with great interest that we reviewed the article by Rho et al. “Deconstructing Chronic Low Back pain in the Older Adult-Step by Step Evidence and Expert-Based Recommendations for Evaluation and Treatment. Part VIII: Lateral Hip and Thigh Pain” [1]. We applaud the authors for addressing this common issue of lateral hip pain, and their thoughtfulness and evidence supported discussion regarding the diagnosis of greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) rather than the commonly used and inaccurate term “greater trochanteric bursitis.” The authors nicely review the literature summarizing that there is a lack of findings on MRI and ultrasound, as well as in histological evidence to support the diagnosis of “bursitis” and/or “tendinitis” in the vast majority of these patients. Additionally, we fully agree with the authors’ noting that there is a lack of inflammatory findings in patients suffering from GTPS and that effective treatment consists of strengthening the weak hip abductors that are often noted in these patients. We have found this to be true in the patients we have treated with GTPS. The authors also note the deficiency of evidence for the use of corticosteroid injections and both the potential systemic side effects and the now well-known toxic effects of corticosteroids to tenocytes, which they note “can potentially contribute to progressive tendinopathy and partial tears.”