Bursitis


Original EditorAndrea Nees

Top Contributors - Hamelryck Sascha, Aarti Sareen, Andrea Nees, Admin, Rachael Lowe, Kim Jackson, Wanda van Niekerk, Chloe Wilson, Blessed Denzel Vhudzijena and Rebecca Willis


Definition/Description

Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa, a small fluid filled sac that sits between muscles, tendons and bones to reduce friction.

Common sites

Prepatellar bursitis

1. Subacromial bursitis
2. Olecranon bursitis - students elbow
3. Prepatellar bursitis - housemaid's knee"
4. Infrapatellar bursitis - clergyman's knee"
5. Prepatellar bursitis - Baker's Cyst
6. Trochanteric bursitis of hip
7. Achilles bursitis
8. Retrocalcaneal bursitis
9. Ischial bursitis - weaver's bottom"
10. Iliopsoas bursitis
11. Pes anserine bursitis
    
    

Clinically Relevant Anatomy

Olecranon buristis

A Bursa appears at a junction of a tendon on the bone. A bursa is filled with a thin layer of synovial fluid. It protects and brakes the shocks of the joint. The structures nearby the bursa can move with minimal friction due to irritation. They have different measures and are mostly flattened.

Mechanism of Injury / Pathological Process

When a Bursa gets inflamed, it swells, develops friction and starts irritating the muscle tendon it is supposed to protect. This way the bursa and muscle tendon get more and more irritated.
These issues lead to bursitis and tendinitis.

Bellow is a summary of causes for bursitis, with the example for the olecranon bursa.

• Overuse of the joint: for example vacuuming for hours on end
• Repetitive strain: for example picking up and lifting heavy loads
• Trauma: by falling on your elbow or bumping it against something
• Pressure: leaning on the elbow at a desk is a common cause of bursitis among students
• Bacterial infection: from an unattended wound (this is called septic bursitis)
• Other inflammatory diseases: Gout for instance:☃☃ the gout crystals can form in the bursa and cause the inflammation.
  
  

Epidemiology/Etiology

Bursitis may occur:

• Mainly by constant friction, thumping or pressure
• The inflammation of the bursa frequently appears in combination with tendinitis
• By an overuse injury or a trauma, especially when pulling and pushing heavy items
• After a forced period of rest
• There also can be an underlying rheumatic condition
• Diabetes, osteoarthritis and disability of the thyroid gland can be associated to bursitis
  

Clinical Presentation

Presentation will depend on the location of the bursitis. There will likely be pain and discomfort over the affected area, and there will often be visible and/or palpable swelling.

Diagnostic Procedures

Calcified bursitis in shoulder X ray

In most cases bursitis can be diagnosed by physically examining the patient.

 Inspection:

• Redness and warmth can be signs of bursitis, but these symptoms are harder to spot when treating a Bursa that is not located superficially under the skin.
• Local tenderness or stiffness.
• Swelling can occur when inflammation gets worse.
  

X-ray:

• Can rule out arthritis and bone deformities
• Can sometimes confirm the presence of following substances inside the bursa (By which it become visible in X ray)
  - Gout crystals
  - Calcifications: When the condition is chronic or recurrent.

Bursa fluid punction:

• Can rule out infections.
  

Outcome Measures

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Management / Interventions

Bursitis due to movement/activity (without infection):

• Rest the affected joint/ bursa
• Ice packages
• NSAID’s ( non steroid anti inflammatory drugs)
• Injections with steroid agents
• When improvement is noticeable, gradual increase in exercise and activities is recommended.

 Note: Resting the affected joint does not mean immobilizing it, this could hold a risk towards adhesive capsulitis (especially in the shoulder).

Bursitis due to infection (= septic bursitis):

• Antibiotics
• Aspiration of the infected bursa fluid with the use of a sterile needle should be repeated approximately  every 3 days
• Never inject with steroids!
  

  Note: When the measures mentioned above are inadequate surgical interventions may be necessary
in case of following factors:

• surgical removal of the bursa is recommended in case of tuberculous bursitis
• Surgical incision and drainage is recommended in case of :
   - Failure of adequately aspirating by needle
   - Bursa site inaccessible to multiple needle aspirations
   - Forming of abscess or necrosis
  

Differential Diagnosis

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Key Evidence

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