These patients present with a painful snapping of the hip, which is usually reproducible with provocative testing. There are three types of snapping hip.
If the hip snaps when it is brought from extension into a flexed position, and pain is located laterally, symptoms are usually caused by a tight iliotibial band snapping over the greater trochanter. This condition often results in secondary trochanteric bursitis. If conservative treatment fails in these cases, bursectomy and ITB lengthening may be required.
If the hip snaps when it is brought from extension into a flexed position and pain is located in the groin, this is usually secondary to the iliopsoas tendon snapping over the femoral head. This condition often results in secondary iliopsoas bursitis. If conservative treatment fails in these cases, iliopsoas release may be required.
Groin pain may also be caused by a snapping hip secondary to intra-articular loose bodies. Management of this condition usually requires arthroscopic articular debridement.
