Anatomy
Large bulge back and out from junction neck and shaft, main attachment of many muscles involved in complex hip movement (including rotation) manifested eg as postural gait; including vastus lateralis, obturator internus/externus, superior/inferior gemellus, piriformis, gluteus medius/minimus.
The greater and lesser trochanters bulge out from top of femur and give leverage to muscles that rotate the femur/thigh (ie turn foot in and out at end of straightened leg).
Clinical
Most commonly fractured as Intertrochanteric injury. Isolated fracture (5% femoral fractures) usually due to direct avulsion injury from action of gluteus medius or minimus. Trochanteric Bursitis (or Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome GTPS) – inflammation of trochanteric bursa due to twisting, overuse, rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic (ie cause unknown).
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