Gluteal Fibrosis

Original Editor - User Name

Top Contributors - Khloud Shreif  

This article or area is currently under construction and may only be partially complete. Please come back soon to see the finished work!

Superficial muscles of the gluteal region.

Clinically Relevant Anatomy[edit | edit source]

Gluteal muscles/ buttock muscles are muscles at the back of the thigh and formed of three layers; gluteus maximus, the superficial layer and the largest muscle, it is important as one of hip extensors and to maintain erect posture. Gluteus medius the middle layer on the lateral aspect of the pelvis below the iliac crest and it is important as a main hip abductor muscle. Gluteus minimus the deep layer and the smallest one of the gluteal muscles and helps with hip abduction and internal rotation.

Mechanism of Injury / Pathological Process[edit | edit source]

Gluteal fibrosis/ gluteal contracture was described early in 1970s, defined as fibrotic infiltration changes of gluteal muscles, most commonly associated with intramuscular injections that may cause functional limitation of hip joint movements[1], patients with gluteal contracture will present with hip abducted and externally rotated[2]. Acquired gluteal fibrosis/ contracture is the most common type, the prevalence increase when the injection was in younger ages.

Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]

Toe- out gait.

Awkward gait be more obvious with running.

Positive ober's test.

Excessive hip external rotation and abduction when the hip is flexed.

Frog leg posture at squatting or sitting.

leg length discrepancy.

Palpable contracture bands.

Skin dimples over the buttocks[3].


Diagnostic Procedures[edit | edit source]

At first we need to exclude first poliomyelitis and other diseases; cerebral palsy, neuromuscular disorders, or other hip abnormalities are important to be ruled out through imaging and clinical examination.

Diagnostic ultrasound: it will show stripes of condensed sound waves (hyperechoic muscles) it had 88.9%sensitivity and 83.3% for specificity.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI: it will show intramuscular atrophic changes and fibrotic cord that will be more common in the upper-third of the gluteus maximus, the fibrotic change may extend to the muscle's tendon.

Radiography X- ray:

Outcome Measures[edit | edit source]

add links to outcome measures here (see Outcome Measures Database)

Management / Interventions[edit | edit source]

add text here relating to management approaches to the condition

Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

add text here relating to the differential diagnosis of this condition

Resources[edit | edit source]

add appropriate resources here

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Reilly AL, Owori FR, Obaikol R, Asige E, Aluka H, Penny N, Olupot R, Sabatini CS. Surgical release of gluteal fibrosis in children results in sustained benefit at 5-year follow-up. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 2021 Mar 11;41(3):e240-5.
  2. Rai S, Meng C, Wang X, Chaudhary N, Jin S, Yang S, Wang H. Gluteal muscle contracture: diagnosis and management options. SICOT-J. 2017;3.
  3. Alves K, Katz JN, Sabatini CS. Gluteal fibrosis and its surgical treatment. The Journal of Bone and Joint surgery. American Volume. 2019 Feb 20;101(4).