Bilateral Gluteus Maximus Tendon Tear Following an Apparently Low-Impact Trauma: A Case Report

TL;DR

An elderly woman suffered a rare bilateral tear of the gluteus maximus tendon after a minor fall, highlighting the need for careful diagnosis in similar cases.

Contribution

This case report adds to the limited literature on gluteus maximus tendon tears and emphasizes diagnostic awareness.

Findings

A bilateral gluteus maximus tendon tear was identified in an 89-year-old woman after sitting on a stool.

The tear was not detected in initial X-ray and CT scans but was revealed on MRI.

The case underscores the importance of considering tendon injuries in persistent hip or pelvic pain.

Abstract

Gluteus maximus tendon tear is an uncommon condition, probably due to the stout nature of its tendon structure as well as the potential for this type of injury to be overlooked by the attending healthcare worker. We present a case of bilateral gluteus maximus tendon tear in an 89-year-old female patient who presented with severe right buttock pain radiating to her right hip, groin, and thigh that started after sitting heavily on a stool. The bilateral tendon tear was discovered when she had a magnetic resonance imaging scan performed to rule out any occult hip or pelvic fracture that may have been missed during a previously performed X-ray and computed tomography scan. This case illustrates the importance of thorough history taking and examination and having a heightened sense of awareness when it comes to gluteus maximus tendon tear in a patient presenting with persistent traumatic pelvic or hip pain despite no fracture demonstrated on initial imaging.

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