title: Is anti-inflammatory radiotherapy an effective treatment in trochanteritis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of low-dose radiotherapy in refractory cases of trochanteritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated a total of 60 consecutive patients who received low-dose radiotherapy to achieve an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect for recurrent trochanteritis following scarce response to conventional therapy. All patients were evaluated at baseline (prior to radiotherapy) and at 1 and 4 months after radiotherapy and then yearly thereafter for pain assessment using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and to determine the administration of analgesic treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An improvement in the symptomatology was observed in 62% of the patients with a significant reduction in the VAS (8 ± 2 vs 4 ± 2; p < 0.0001), which was largely maintained until the second evaluation at 4 months. In the cases responding to radiotherapy, the probability of maintaining improvement beyond 24 months was 70%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose anti-inflammatory radiation may be used in the treatment of the recurrent cases of relapse or no response of trochanteritis to conventional treatments, with a high probability of remission of pain. These preliminary results indicate the need for evaluating the use of radiotherapy in patients with trochanteritis refractory to conventional treatment in a long-term controlled study. Advances in knowledge: Radiotherapy provides effective analgesic treatment for patients refractory to standard treatment for trochanteritis.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Clínic, Institute of Haematology and Oncology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Izaskun
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Valduvieco
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Clínic, Institute of Haematology and Oncology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biete
authors.affiliation: 2 Surgical Area, Anesthesia Service, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: 3 Traumatology Service, Hospital Clínic, Institute of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gallart
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Clínic, Institute of Haematology and Oncology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Angels
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rovirosa
authors.affiliation: 2 Surgical Area, Anesthesia Service, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saez
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Clínic, Institute of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plana
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Clínic, Institute of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome