What are common symptoms of trochanteric bursitis?

• A. Pain over the lateral hip with tenderness
• B. Pain in the lateral knee
• C. Fever and systemic illness
• D. Pain at the lateral hip, worsened by standing, walking, climbing stairs, or lying on the affected side

Answer: (D)

Trochanteric bursitis presents with localized pain at the outer aspect of the hip over the greater trochanter and tenderness in that area, but the hallmark is that the pain is clearly linked to hip loading and position. The best description is pain at the lateral hip that worsens with activities that load the hip or pressure on the side, such as standing, walking, climbing stairs, or lying on the affected side. This combination of location and mechanical aggravation is what distinguishes trochanteric bursitis from other conditions.

Pain felt only on palpation of the hip without activity-related worsening can occur, but the classic, most characteristic pattern includes the activity-related worsening described. Pain localized to the lateral knee is not typical for this condition, and fever or systemic illness would point away from a localized bursitis toward infection or systemic disease.