Elbow bursitis is inflammation of the bursa, which can be caused by trauma, infection, medical conditions, or pressure. Symptoms include swelling, pain, and limited mobility. Treatment can be nonsurgical or surgical, depending on the severity of the condition.
Elbow bursitis is a condition that occurs when the bursa becomes infected or inflamed. The bursa is the slippery part of the elbow tip between the loose skin and the elbow bones. The bursa is flat and its function is to allow the skin to move freely over the underlying bone. Elbow bursitis is also called olecranon bursitis, and patients with this disease experience fluid collecting in the bursa. When fluid builds up, pain and swelling usually accompany it.
Elbow bursitis can result from several causes, including trauma, infection, medical conditions, and pressure. A fall on the elbow or a hard blow to this part of the body can cause the bursa to collect fluid and swell, leading to elbow bursitis. An injury that breaks the skin can allow bacteria to enter the bursa, causing an infection, leading to fluid collection, redness, and swelling. If the infection is not treated, the fluid can turn into pus, which is very dangerous for the patient. Medical conditions that can lead to elbow bursitis include rheumatoid arthritis and gout, and pressure on the elbow, such as leaning on it while it’s resting on a hard surface, can also cause bursitis.
The first symptom of elbow bursitis is swelling; this is how the patient first realizes that he has an elbow problem. The bursa stretches, causing pain in the nerve endings in the elbow. Eventually, the bursa becomes so large that the person experiences less mobility in the elbow than before. If the elbow bursitis was the result of an infection, further symptoms cause the skin around the elbow to become red and warm, and the patient may feel fever, chills and sweats, and scratch or cut from the infected region. The infection must be treated immediately, otherwise it can spread into the bloodstream, which becomes extremely dangerous for the patient.
If a person believes they have symptoms of elbow bursitis, they should see a doctor right away. Doctors can often diagnose bursitis simply by doing an exam, but it’s always a good idea to get an X-ray just to be sure. If the diagnosis is unclear, an MRI may also be done, but usually an X-ray will be a clear indication.
Elbow bursitis treatment can be nonsurgical or surgical. Nonsurgical treatment involves removing the fluid from the bursitis, and antibiotic medications are usually prescribed to prevent the infection from progressing, if the bursitis likely resulted from an infection. Surgical treatment should be resorted to only if the doctor is unable to remove the fluid otherwise. In extreme cases, the only way to cure bursitis is to remove the bursa.
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