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OLECRANON BURSITIS

What is Olecranon Bursitis ?

A bursa is a sac filled with fluid which develops wherever skin moves over a prominent bony point. The name for the point of the elbow is the olecranon and the bursa over the point of the elbow is called the olecranon bursa. This allows the skin of the elbow to move freely over the elbow bone and stops the skin from tearing when the elbow is placed on a hard surface. Sometimes this bursa becomes swollen and painful as a result of either an inflammation or an infection. This condition is known as olecranon bursitis.

How does Olecranon Bursitis occur ?

Bursitis may occur for a number of reasons. It may be connected with other inflammations affecting the body, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or it may occur after a severe knock to the elbow. Sometimes the swelling is the result of an infection in the bursa due to a germ which enters either through the bloodstream or through a wound over the bursa.

Why does Olecranon Bursitis occur ?

Bursitis may occur in any age group, but is more common in older people. It may be associated with repeated rubbing of the elbow skin over the elbow and may occur in people who have to rest their elbow on hard surfaces for long periods of time. Bursitis in connection with infections usually occurs spontaneously.

Treatment Involved for Olecranon Bursitis

The treatment of bursitis depends upon the cause of the swelling. If the inflammation is not due to infection, then treatment will simply consist of resting and protecting the elbow, with or without the use of an anti-inflammatory drug to calm the redness down. This takes some time to occur and when the redness and pain has gone out of the bursa you may still be left with a thickened bursa over the elbow joint. If the swelling is the result of a bacterial infection, the condition is treated rather like a boil under the skin. In mild or early infection, treatment with antibiotics may be all that is needed and the infection will settle without further problem. However, if the infection is too advanced, then surgery may be required. The surgery will take place under either local or general anaesthetic and will involve making a cut over the swollen bursa to allow pus to drain and the body's normal defences to cope with the remaining infection. Antibiotics are given as well. Drainage will allow the bursitis to settle but the wound may take several weeks to heal. After the wound has healed, it is sometimes necessary to have the bursa, which has a thickened lining, removed under a separate anaesthetic on a different occasion to prevent the infection starting again. After its removal the body has the capacity to create another bursa over the point of the elbow to protect the skin.

During Treatment for Olecranon Bursitis

In general, most inflammations and infections settle with drug treatment. If, however, the bursitis is being treated as simple inflammation and not infection, and yet there is no change in the redness, swelling, and pain within 3 to 4 days of treatment, it might be that the swelling is after all due to infection. You should see your doctor as antibiotics may be required. Once again, if an infection is being treated with antibiotics, and the bursitis fails to settle within 3 to 4 days, then further help and advice should be sought: surgical drainage may be required.

After Treatment for Olecranon Bursitis

Inflammatory olecranon bursitis may recur. This is not a harmful condition but may be a nuisance. If this happens, the bursa may need to be removed surgically. The bursa may also need to be removed if after treatment with antibiotics the infection recurs or the wound fails to close.

If Olecranon Bursitis is Left Untreated

Inflammatory olecranon bursitis will usually settle of its own accord if rested and untreated. Infected olecranon bursitis might well discharge of its own accord in time, and settle. However, in some cases the local infection may spread to the bloodstream and cause septicaemia. This would make you ill and hospital treatment would be required.