The effect of corticosteroid injections in the treatment of greater trochanteric pain syndrome: lessons for advanced practitioners

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome is a broad term employed to characterize lateral hip pain originating from the structures attached to the greater trochanter of the femur. The documented decrease in work participation, elevated levels of pain and dysfunction impeding physical activity, and diminished quality of life align with those observed in individuals with severe hip osteoarthritis. Effectively managing Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome can present considerable challenges. Generally, patients with Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome tend to respond favourably to conservative management. However, regarding the conservative approach of using corticosteroid injections there is still some debate regarding the specific estimation of effect. A recent systematic review by Wang et al. (2022) was undertaken to explore the effect of corticosteroid injection in the treatment of Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome. This commentary seeks to critically assess the methodologies employed in the review conducted by Wang et al. (2022) and provide a broader understanding of the findings in the context of the four pillars of advanced practice; clinical practice, leadership, education and research.