Olecranon Bursitis is also known as Elbow Bursitis. Bursae are a thin sac of fluids which are located throughout the body near the joints and help in cushioning the bones, muscles, and tendons. They help the skin to smoothly glide over the bones. The elbow bursa is located between the tip of the elbow and the skin. The pointed bone at the tip of the elbow is known as olecranon. When there is inflammation in the bursa, it is called bursitis. The olecranon bursa is flat, but when it gets inflamed or irritated, more fluid fills up inside the bursa and it gets swollen and enlarged. This inflammation of the bursa in the elbow is known as olecranon bursitis or elbow bursitis.
Young and middle-aged people who do manual labor, elbow crawls as drills, and sports participants are most likely to suffer from this condition. Also, people suffering from certain medical conditions or taking medications in which the immune system gets suppressed may be at a higher risk for olecranon bursitis.
Symptoms
The symptoms of olecranon bursitis are localized to the elbow joint. The usual symptoms are:
- Swelling
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Warmth and redness
- Pus
- Stiffness
- Limited range of motion
- Fever if it is a case of septic bursitis
Causes
The causes of olecranon bursitis are:
- Injury or trauma to the elbow: hitting the elbow against a hard surface or falling on it can cause the elbow to swell.
- Pressure: applying too much pressure or leaning against the elbow for a long duration can cause the elbow to get inflamed.
- Infection: when the bursa gets infected because of a scrape or wound or an insect bite, it can get filled with extra fluid and get swollen.
- Other underlying conditions: other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, gout, or kidney failure can also cause elbow bursitis.
- History of olecranon bursitis: people who have had olecranon bursitis have increased chances of having it again.
Treatment
The goal of the treatment in olecranon bursitis is to reduce the pain and discomfort, and prevent or cure the infection. If the bursitis is not due to any infection, then the condition is managed by:
- Elbow pads, recommended to cushion the elbow
- Change of activity to avoid further pressure on the elbow
- Medicines such as ibuprofen or other inflammatories, prescribed to reduce the pain, swelling, and other symptoms.
If the bursitis is infected, then antibiotics are also prescribed. However, if the pain and swelling do not reduce after 3 to 6 weeks despite all the above measures, the fluid may have to be drained from the bursa and an injection of corticosteroids may be prescribed. This injection is stronger than the oral medications and will help in reducing the inflammation, pain, and discomfort. But, if the olecranon bursitis does not get better with the treatment and medicines, surgery will be prescribed to remove the entire bursa. The bursa will grow back within a few months. The new bursa will be non-inflamed and function normally. It would take 3 to 4 weeks for the elbow to heal completely and for its use to be regained. However, it will need to be padded and protected for a few months to prevent it from getting injured again. Physical therapy may also be required to help in restoring the normal range of motion.
Olecranon bursitis is a painful condition but can be cured completely with the right treatment.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
