Investigation

• only investigation worth doing for external type snapping is dynamic ultrasound, where the ITB can be visualized snapping over the greater trochanter
  
  
• for internal type snapping, dynamic and static ultrasound demonstrate the abnormal movement of the iliopsoas tendon, a thick iliopsoas muscle, an enlarged bursa as well as peritendinous fluid collections
  
  
• bursography and tendonography have also been described for detecting internal snapping
  
  
• CT
  • only role for CT is to compare the iliopectineal eminences on each side
    
    
• plain radiographs and MRI
  • useful in the diagnosis of intra-articular type snapping by demonstrating any loose bodies, synovial chondromatosis, acetabular labral tears or osteochondral fractures

Reference:

• Allen WC, Cope R. Coxa saltans: the snapping hip revisited. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 1995; 3: 303-8.
• Provencher MT, Hofmeister EP, Muldoon MP. The surgical treatment of external coxa saltans (the snapping hip) by Z-plasty of the iliotibial band. Am J Sports Med 2004; 32: 470-6.