The main clinical presentation of the patient is pain in the affected hip, which radiates along the course of the sciatic nerve (the pain radiates from the hip through the back of the thigh, towards the calf and foot).
When the pain is severe the patient develops a painful limp and has difficulty walking. Sitting cross-legged, bending over and lifting weights can cause the pain to worsen, which can be relieved to varying degrees by traction.
A poke-shaped, salami-like mass (scar or scab) may be palpable in the hip.