What Is Olecranon Bursitis?

Sussex Hand CONDITION Surgery Olecranon Bursitis CONDITION This is a swelling and inflammation What is behind the tip of the elbow. Surgery is only required in a small Olecranon Bursitis? minority of cases. What is Olecranon Bursitis? What problems does Are any investigations What treatment is Olecranon Bursitis required to confirm the necessary for Olecranon The olecranon is the bone you can cause? diagnosis? Bursitis? feel just below the skin on the back of your elbow. It is the near Inflammation of the olecranon Xrays are often taken to look at Mild cases can be relieved with end of the ulnar bone of your bursa makes it swell and thicken the underlying joint. Sometimes rest, activity modification, forearm. and causes a soft lump to appear an extra prominence is seen on painkillers and ice packs. on the back of the elbow which is the tip of the olecranon in this A bursa is a thin lubricating bag Antibiotics should be reserved for painful. The surrounding skin can condition (an olecranon spur). It is between the skin and the bone cases where infection seems very also become inflamed and red. The not clear if this increases the below. You have them at various likely. bursa may also become infected chance of inflammation occurring points in the body where the bone increasing the pain and swelling. in the bursa or if it is an incidental If you become unwell, for instance is close to the skin (the elbow, the Sometimes the swelling will burst finding. Certainly people who have with a high fever, hospital knee, the side of your hip). releasing the contents, often with never had olecranon bursitis can treatment with strong antibiotics In this condition the bursa some relief of the symptoms. have an olecranon spur. into the veins might be necessary. becomes inflamed and irritated. If things don’t settle rapidly under Blood tests might be useful if This can occur from local irritation those circumstances an operation infection is suspected. (eg doing a job involving a lot of might be necessary to drain the leaning or resting on the tip of the Drawing fluid off the swelling can fluid out of the bursa and allow elbow), an injury (eg a cut or be useful to relieve symptoms and the antibiotics to clear up the graze) or for no obvious reason. It provide a specimen to look for surrounding infection. Often the can be related to an underlying infection. This must be done in a bursa will be left open after the joint problem (eg gout or sterile way to avoid introducing operation with a little ‘wick’ in pseudogout) although the bursa infection into the bursa which place inside to allow the bursa to itself is not normally connected to could make the situation worse. continue draining and avoid a the inside of the joint. further build up of fluid inside. This opening then gradually heals up Diagram to show a A thickened and swollen with dressings over a few weeks. normal Olecranon Bursa Olecranon Bursa Sometimes olecranon bursitis occurs repeatedly over several months and years and the bursa becomes bigger than usual even when it is not inflamed. Under these circumstances, if the swelling is a real nuisance, surgically excising the whole bursa can be considered. This is not without risks, particularly of wound healing in this delicate area. Your specialist can advise you further. Ulna bone at elbow www.sussexhandsurgery.co.uk These notes are intended as a guide and some of the © Sussex Hand Surgery details may vary depending on your individual January 2018 circumstance and at the discretion of your surgeon..

Load more