Treatment of recalcitrant iliotibial band friction syndrome with open iliotibial band bursectomy: indications, technique, and clinical outcomes
original abstract†Abstracts here may not perfectly match originals, for a variety of technical and practical reasons. Some abstacts are truncated for my purposes here, if they are particularly long-winded and unhelpful. I occasionally add clarifying notes. And I make some minor corrections.
BACKGROUND: Iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS) is an overuse injury causing lateral knee pain. There is evidence that the pathological lesion is in fact an inflamed bursa underlying the iliotibial band (ITB) rather than an inflamed ITB itself.
HYPOTHESIS: Resection of the bursa underlying the ITB in ITBFS patients will relieve their pain and allow them to return to their preinjury activity level.
STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
METHODS: We describe the technique of ITB bursectomy and report a minimal 20-month follow-up of patients who had ITB bursectomies performed by a single surgeon. The patients completed a survey detailing their preoperative and postoperative symptoms and activities.
RESULTS: The senior author performed 12 consecutive cases of ITB bursectomies (12 patients). One was excluded from the study (previous microfracture). The average age at surgery was 32 years (standard deviation, 5; range, 24-41). There were 7 men and 4 women. Postoperatively, patients were able to return to their preinjury Tegner activity levels, and the visual analog pain scores decreased by an average of 6 points (P < .001). Six patients were completely satisfied with the surgical outcome, 3 were mostly satisfied, 2 were somewhat satisfied, and none were dissatisfied. Nine of 11 patients said that knowing what they know now, they would have the surgery performed again for the same problem.
CONCLUSION: Iliotibial band bursectomy successfully reduces knee pain in patients with ITBFS and allows them to return to their preinjury level of activity. The great majority of patients were satisfied with the results of the procedure.
related content
- “An arthroscopic technique to treat the iliotibial band syndrome,” an article in Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 2009.
- “The iliotibial band syndrome treated with an arthroscopic technique in 40 patients,” an article in ScienceMED, 2011.
- “Surgical treatment of iliotibial band friction syndrome. A retrospective study of 45 patients,” an article in Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 1999.
One article on PainScience.com cites Hariri 2009 as a source:
- PS Save Yourself from IT Band Syndrome! — All your treatment options for Iliotibial Band Syndrome reviewed in great detail, with clear explanations of recent scientific research supporting every key point
