Trendelenburg gait 

What is Trendelenburg gait ?

Trendelenburg gait is abnormal gait resulting from a defective abductor mechanism of hip joint which causes drooping of the pelvis to the contralateral side while walking.

What is the name of primary musculature involved in Trendelenburg gait ?

Primary musculature involved is the gluteal musculature, including the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus muscles. 

What are the causes of Trendelenburg gait?

Hip joint and its abductor mechanism behave like a class 3 lever with the effort and the load on the same side of the fulcrum

Any pathology of the fulcrum, load, effort, or the lever which binds all three will lead to a positive Trendelenburg gait.

Failure of the fulcrum presents in the following conditions:

• Osteonecrosis of hip
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
• Developmental dysplasia of the hip
• Chronically dislocated hips secondary to trauma
• Chronically dislocated hips secondary to infections like tuberculosis of the hip

Failure of the lever is a feature in the following conditions:

• Greater trochanteric avulsion
• Non-union of the neck of the femur
• Coxa Vara

Failure of effort presents in the following conditions:

• Poliomyelitis
• L5 radiculopathy
• Superior gluteal nerve damage
• Gluteus medius and minimus tendinitis
• Gluteus medius and minimus abscess
• Post total hip arthroplasty