Synonyms
BursitisThe term “bursitis” refers to a disease in which inflammatory processes occur within one or more bursae of the joints. The bursitis is mainly caused by injuries, infections or permanent irritation of the tissue. Bursae are a part of every real joint.
They are typically located between two fixed parts of the joint that can be moved against each other. In the case of the hip, the bursa lies between the head of the femur and the socket of the hip bone. The function of a bursa is to distribute the pressure exerted by the individual joint structures evenly and to facilitate the sliding of cartilage and bone on each other.
A bursa is lined with a membrane and surrounded by a resistant capsule. The capsule of a bursa is partially permeable. In this way, nutrients from the bloodstream can enter the bursa through the capsule and ensure its supply.
Bursitis of the bursa is particularly common in the area of the elbow or knee joint. The development of bursitis of the hip, on the other hand, is comparatively rare. Patients with bursitis of the hip notice pain in the hip joint and groin at an early stage. The pain caused by the inflammatory processes can be localized in the hip region or radiate into the lower back and thigh. In addition, the symptoms of bursitis of the hip typically increase significantly under stress.
Definition/Introduction
The clinical picture of an inflammation of the bursa of the hip is an inflammation of the so-called bursa lying over the large rolling mound. This is an anatomical structure that lies above the part of the thigh bone close to the hip. There are many places in the body where these bursae can be found.
A bursa is a sack filled with a fluid that occurs near joints, where pressure is greatest. The bursa ensures that the mechanical pressure and friction caused by other structures, which naturally occurs there through movement, is not directly transferred to the musculoskeletal system, but is somewhat reduced by the bursa. The increased mechanical stress in these areas, however, often leads to inflammation of the bursa.
If such an inflammation affects the bursa above the thigh bone in the area of the trochanteric mound, it is medically called bursitis trochanterica. A special feature of the bursa at the hip is that muscle attachments of heavily strained muscles can be found in the immediate vicinity. The hip muscles that are heavily strained in some sports can irritate the bursa and cause the clinical picture of bursitis trochanterica.
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