Elbow

Acute Olecranon Bursitis

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Acute Olecranon Bursitis, Olecranon Bursitis, Miner's Elbow, Student's Elbow, Draftsman's Elbow

  • See Also
  1. Chronic Olecranon Bursitis
  2. Septic Bursitis
  3. Bursitis
  • Mechanism
  1. Olecranon bursa overlies olecranon process
  2. Causes of Acute Olecranon Bursitis
    1. Direct Trauma (often repetitive)
    2. Hemodialysis patients in arm with fistula (likely due to Dialysis arm suppport)
    3. Rheumatoid Arthritis
    4. Gout
    5. Pseudogout
  • Signs
  1. Swelling over olecranon tip (usually painless, non-tender)
    1. No redness, warmth, limited range of motion or other signs of Septic Olecranon Bursitis
  2. Bursa sac fills with blood or clear fluid
  • Differential Diagnosis
  1. Chronic Olecranon Bursitis
  2. Olecranon Bursa Infection
  3. Uncommon conditions
    1. Systemic Sclerosis
    2. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
    3. Hypertrophic pulmonary Osteoarthropathy
  • Management
  • Preventing fluid reformation
  1. Ice applied to bursa for 20 minutes per hour
  2. Compression Dressing
  3. Avoid provocative activity (e.g. leaning on elbows)
  4. Refractory cases
    1. Olecranon Bursa Aspiration (risks of infection, fistula tract)
    2. Consider Olecranon Bursa Injection
  • Prognosis
  1. Many acute lesions subside spontaneously
  • Complications
  1. Olecranon Bursa Infection
  2. Chronic Olecranon Bursitis
  • References
  1. Khodaee (2017) Am Fam Physician 95(4): 224-31 [PubMed]