Groin pain and iliopsoas bursitis: always a cause-effect relationship?
OBJECTIVE
Iliopsoas bursitis (IB) is characterized by inflammation and enlargement of the iliopsoas bursa. Although this condition is often associated with degenerative or inflammatory arthritis, infections, trauma, overuse and impingement syndromes, osteonecrosis and hip replacement, the pathogenesis of IB remains uncertain. We present a case report of IB associated with moderate hip osteoarthritis (HOA).


METHODS
We present a case report of a 73-year-old man with chronic left hip pain that did not respond to conservative treatments. An ultrasonography examination of the left hip revealed fluid-induced distension of the iliopsoas bursa, which was treated with aspiration followed by a corticosteroid-anesthetic injection.


RESULTS
At the 30-day follow-up, despite an initial improvement in the patient's symptoms, both the pain and functional limitation returned, though not in association with bursa distension. The patient therefore underwent a total hip arthroplasty, which fully relieved the symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
We hypothesize that iliopsoas bursitis may, when associated with other pathological conditions, not be the only source of pain. It should, nevertheless, be considered for differential diagnosis purposes.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation University, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopaedic Science, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
Luca
L
Di Sante
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation University, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopaedic Science, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
Marco
M
Paoloni
Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopaedic Science, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
Stefano
S
De Benedittis
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation University, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopaedic Science, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
Lucrezia
L
Tognolo
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation University, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopaedic Science, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
Valter
V
Santilli
D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D002062:Bursitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006119:Groin / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Iliopsoas bursitis; groin pain; hip osteoarthritis; ultrasonography