The gluteus maximus femoral insertion: a guide in surgery about the hip.

The proximal portion of the gluteus femoral insertion consistently lies at the level of the lesser trochanter, a common reference point in many surgical procedures about the hip. The advantages of using the tendinous insertion of the gluteus maximus into the femur over that of the lesser trochanter is that it is easy to palpate and visualize through the standard lateral and posterolateral approaches to the hip and proximal femur.