Contents
What is bursitis
Bursa is a kind of sac under the human skin filled with synovial fluid, it is necessary to reduce friction when moving between the skin, ligaments, tendons and bones. However, when this bag is irritated, inflammation can occur, which is called bursitis.
There are three bursae around the elbow joint: radiohumeral, ulnar subcutaneous, and ulnar interosseous. With bursitis of the elbow joint, the inflammatory process occurs in one of them.
– As inflammation and swelling of the synovial membrane of the periarticular sac develops, the volume of fluid increases, this is accompanied by pain and other symptoms. Depending on the nature of the fluid in the cavity of the bag, serous and hemorrhagic bursitis are distinguished, explains orthopedist, traumatologist, surgeon Abdul Gadzhimuradov.
What you need to know about elbow bursitis
| Other names | ulnar bursitis, ulnar bursitis |
| Symptoms | swelling in the elbow area, pain and discomfort, skin redness, fever |
| Treatment | immobilization, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, surgery |
| Complications | lymphangitis, lymphadenitis, purulent arthritis |
Causes of elbow bursitis in adults
The main causes of elbow bursitis are:
- injury or sprain;
- high load on the joint;
- mechanical damage to the skin in the elbow area and infection in the wound (bacteria such as staphylococcus or streptococcus);
- autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, gout, etc.).
Symptoms of elbow bursitis in adults
Bursitis can be acute, recurrent, post-traumatic and purulent, the symptoms differ depending on its type, but there are common ones:
- pain in the elbow joint;
- movement restriction;
- increased pain when trying to bend or straighten the arm;
- swelling;
- palpable round mass filled with fluid.
– Recurrent bursitis, which usually occurs in office workers, manifests itself in the form of mild joint pain that lasts for a long time. There is no restriction of movement – the patient can bend and unbend the arm, but when palpated, a formation can be detected. And during an exacerbation, fluid accumulates there, and it increases in volume, the specialist explains.
In septic bursitis, when inflammation is accompanied by infection, there may be tenderness, fever, and swelling of the bursa, and these symptoms may progress every day.
Treatment of elbow bursitis in adults
Most often, in the treatment of bursitis of the elbow joint, preference is given to conservative therapy. At the acute stage of the disease, steroid anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the form of ointments, compresses with the use of glucocorticosteroids, immobilization of the elbow joint is provided – a bandage is put on the elbow.
– Periarticular injections are also used: a puncture is made, the fluid is pumped out, and then a glucocorticosteroid is injected in combination with a local anesthetic. When the acute phase passes, it is possible to use physiotherapy, explains the orthopedic doctor.
Diagnostics
Even with a visual examination, it is easy to suspect bursitis, but this disease can be similar in symptoms to other ailments: rheumatoid or septic arthritis, gout, even trauma, such as a fracture.
To confirm or refute the diagnosis of bursitis of the elbow joint, it is necessary to do at least an ultrasound scan. It will help to identify changes in the bursa of the olecranon and tell the nature of the bursitis. MRI is also used for diagnosis.
Modern treatments
In modern medicine, drugs with fewer side effects than glucocorticosteroids, as well as autoplasma therapy, are used to treat elbow bursitis.
– During autoplasma therapy, your own blood is taken, plasma with an increased concentration of platelets (up to 1 million cells) is separated from it and injected into the inflamed area. Autoplasma therapy has fewer side effects and no risk of allergic reactions because your own cells are used, explains orthopedic doctor Abdul Gadzhimuradov.
Prevention of elbow bursitis in adults at home
Since injuries and skin lesions are the main cause of elbow bursitis, in order to prevent them, you should try to protect yourself from them. If damage has occurred, it is necessary to treat the wound with antiseptic solutions. If the damage is serious, you should go to the emergency room.
“In order to prevent recurrent bursitis, you should try to lean your elbows on the hard surface of the table as little as possible, engage in physiotherapy exercises, knead the elbow joints with rotational movements in both directions,” the doctor advises.
Prevention of gouty bursitis includes a special diet.