Trochanteric bursitis is initially treated with local anaesthetic and corticosteroid injections but when this fails there are few interventions that relieve the symptoms.

We report a new surgical technique for refractory trochanteric bursitis in 43 patients. Fourteen patients had developed trochanteric bursitis after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), 6 after revision THA, 17 for no definable reason (idiopathic) and 7 after trauma.

Follow up ranged from six months to 15 years (mean five years). Outcome was measured by pre and post operative Oxford Hip Scores. The mean post operative decreases were 23 points in traumatic cases, 13 in idiopathic and 13 for patients after primary THA. A mean increase of 3 was observed in patients after revision THA.

The operation relieved symptoms in 75%. The outcome depended on aetiology. 100% of traumatic, 88% of idiopathic and 64% after primary THA were successful. All operations after revision THA were unsuccessful.

This is the largest series of a single surgical technique for refractory trochanteric bursitis and the only one to subdivide the outcome by aetiology. Transposition of the gluteal fascia is indicated in patients with idiopathic, traumatic and post primary THA trochanteric bursitis, but not after revision THA.