Gluteal Bursa Injection

Gluteal Bursa Injection with corticosteroid is used to treat chronic bursitis of the gluteal bursa that results from خveruse or fall onto buttock.

Chronic bursitis is characterized by pain and tenderness over the upper lateral quadrant of the buttock; painful passive flexion, abduction adduction; resisted abduction and extension.

Related Anatomy

Gluteal bursae are variable in number, size and shape. They can lie deep to the gluteal muscles on the blade of the ilium and also between the layers of the three muscles. Palpation for the center of the painful site guides the placement of the needle, but comparison between the two sides is essential because this area is always tender.

See Also: Hip Joint Anatomy

Equipment Needed

• Syringe: 5 ml
• Needle: Spinal , 22 gauge / 3.5 inches (90 mm)
• Kenalog 40: 40 mg
• Lidocaine: 4 ml, 1%
• Total volume: 5 ml

Gluteal Bursa Injection Technique

• Patient lies on unaffected side, with lower leg extended and upper leg flexed
• Identify and mark centre of tender area in upper outer quadrant of buttock
• Insert needle perpendicular to skin until it touches bone of ilium
• Inject solution in areas of no resistance while moving the needle in a circular manner, out towards surface; imagine needle point walking up a spiral staircase.

There are no major blood vessels or nerves in the area of the bursae, so the gluteal bursa injection is straightforward. Feeling for a loss of resistance beneath and within the glutei guides the clinician in depositing the fluid. Pain referred from the lumbar spine or sacroiliac joint may be mistaken for gluteal bursitis. The presence of tenderness midbuttock, which is normal in most individuals, should not be considered diagnostic of an inflamed bursa.

For large individuals, a longer spinal needle might be required.

The patient should be instructed that pain relief after the gluteal bursa injection procedure will likely be temporary due to the transient effect of the local anesthetic and that it will take several days for the corticosteroids to take effect. In addition, the patient should be educated on common issues after the procedure, such as local site tenderness and any signs or symptoms that warrant medical attention. The patient should also be advised to avoid prolonged submersion in water for 24 hours.

References & More

• Injection Techniques in Musculoskeletal Medicine. A Practical Manual for Clinicians In Primary And Secondary Care. Fifth Edition.
• Le DT, Shah S. Greater Trochanteric Bursa Injection. [Updated 2023 May 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573083/