Olecranon Bursitis
Olecranon bursitis is the inflammation of the bone on the top part of ulna. It is the bone at the back of the elbow used when leaning on.
Bursa is a sac that has a small amount of fluid lubricating and cushioning tendons and joints. the fluid inside the bursa is similar to synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is the fluid found in joints. Bursae are the ones responsible in producing smooth movements between bones.
Olecranon bursitis is the most common bursal inflammation. Having this yields limited motion on the upper extremities, making it difficult to perform activities of daily living such as taking a bath.
Causes Olecranon Bursitis
- Friction and repeated injury may cause olecranon bursitis. Olecranon bursitis is also named as miner’s elbow and plumbers elbow and any occupation that uses the elbows frequently.
- Accidents such as trauma and injury
- Generalized Arthritis may also cause olecranon bursitis
- Invasion of microorganisms .
- Unknown. like other illnesses, this may occur with no pointed reason.
Olecranon bursitis symptoms
Swelling and tenderness on the back of the elbow is usually present for olecranon bursitis. It may look like a small ball or cyst. Most often than not, they are painless or sometimes, mild pain may be felt. Elbow movement is usually not altered.
Septic olecranon bursitis is the type of olecranon bursitis that is infected. This type is usually red, swollen and painful.
Olecranon bursitis that is caused by generalized arthritis will have joint pains and may not be painful
Diagnosis for Olecranon Bursitis
If an accident or trauma is experienced, this may be diagnosed easily without running any tests. Meanwhile, laboratory tests and scans may be performed to rule out other elbow disorders such as gouty arthritis, infection and rheumatoid arthritis. If serious injury happened, an x-ray may be done to be sure that bones were not broken or fractured.
Treatment for Olecranon Bursitis
- Do the RICE treatment for Olecranon Bursitis. Swelling subsides with Rest, applying Ice packs may relieve pain, wearing elastic bandage for Compression and Elevating affected elbow to prevent edema.
- In most cases, olecranon bursitis is self limiting. This means that no medical treatment is needed because it heals spontaneously. Slight skin thickening on the olecranon area that is painless is common.
- Anti-inflammatory drug administration to prevent inflammation is done. Ibuprofen, diclofenac and Naproxen are the most common drugs prescribed.
- A steroid is administered parenterally cures worse cases of olecranon bursitis.
- Draining the fluid may be performed with the use of a needle and syringe in cases where a large amount of fluid builds up. This procedure alleviates the symptoms but does not cure the illness as recurrence is high especially when bandage is not applied.
- Surgery is the option for olecranon bursitis if all of the above treatments do not work.
- For septic olecranon bursitis, antibiotics may be used.
- Excessive friction is avoided to prevent worsening of the symptoms. Elbow pads may be used for olecranon bursitis.
When surgery is performed, a splint may be applied for skin protection. proloned immobilization may not be necessary. Doing some range of motion exercise may be recommended for strengthening and stretching. After surgery, skin should be well after ten to fourteen days and eventually, after three to four weeks, the client may be allowed a full use of his elbow but wearing elbow pads is needed to prevent recurrence of olecranon bursitis.
