Greater trochanter

Looks like

A large bony bump at the top outer side of the thigh bone, felt at the side of the hip.

What it does

Anchors the gluteal muscles that hold the pelvis level when you walk.

Keeping it well

Pain lying on that side is usually a worn gluteal tendon (greater trochanteric pain syndrome); exercises help most. After a fall in older age, hip pain and inability to walk suggest a broken hip — emergency.

Related conditions

• Achondroplasia
• Acromegaly
• Avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis)
• Bone metastases and spinal cord compression
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Growing pains
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Perthes disease
• Restless legs syndrome
• Sarcoma
• Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
• Varicose veins
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency