Introduction: Ruptures of the glutaeus minimus tendon at the greater trochanter may be a reason for persisting pain after total hip replacement. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of the rupture of the glutaeus minimus tendon at the greater trochanter in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip.

Patients and Methods: From May until August 2004, total hip joints were implanted in 67 conscutive patients with osteoarthritis of the hip joint. 54 of the operations were done with a standard Watson-Jones approach. 13 patients were operated with a minimal invasive approach without visualisation of the gluteaus minimus tendon. For the minimal invasive approach only patients with a normal appearance ot the X-ray of the greater trochanter were selected. The integrity of the insertion of the glutaeus minimus tendon was recorded during the operation with the Watson-Jones approach und compared to the X-ray findings.

Results: There were 8 complete and 13 partial ruptures of the glutaeus minimus tendon in 54 patients with the Watson-Jones approach. The mean age of the patients with rupture was 75.0 years compared to 67.2 years of the patients without rupture.The Y-rays ot the hip in two planes showed osteophytes at the greater trochanter in 18 (86 %) with a ruptur and in no patient without a ruptur. The frequnece of a complete or partial rupture of the glutaeus minimus tendon was at least 31% in the 67 patients of this study.

Conclusion: Ruptures of the glutaeus minimus tendon are common in patients with osteoarthritis o thi hip but it is unknown whether it is necessary to reinsert the tendon during the implantation of an artificial hip joint.