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Bursitis

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Bursitis

WHAT IS IT?

Bursae or bursas, which are moving sacs containing synovial fluid, are located in all the joints and prevent friction. There are two types of bursae: deep and superficial bursae. The former are located between the muscles or between the muscles and the bone whereas the latter are located on the epicondyles. The oleocranon bursa is also superficial and is the most important bursa in the elbow.

 Olecranon Bursitis most commonly occurs in the elbow and is a result of a swollen superficial olecranon bursa. It may be infectious or non-infectious.

CAUSES

Bursitis may be caused by a number of different pathologies and it has been outlined that there is a relationship between processes such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, chondrocalcinosis or diseases due to deposits of hydroxyapatite crystals and olecranon bursitis. Both septic and aseptic inflammatory pathologies may be related. Repetitive elbow strain (student's elbow) or direct impact are the main causes of the trauma pathology.

SYMPTOMS

The main symptoms are swelling and pain. Olecranon bursitis strain tends not to be painful except in the case of a septic or crystal-inflammatory bursitis.

TREATMENT

In the former case the treatment will be to try to bring the swelling down using ice and anti-inflammatory medication.

Aspiration and cortico-steroid medication.

In the event of a septic bursitis:

If the process is refractory: Surgical intervention.

In certain cases of bursitis which are non-complicated yet resistant to the most typical treatments  platelet-rich plasma may be used on an outpatient basis at our Biological Therapy Unit similar to the case of cortico-steroid injections, normally between 1 and 3 times and with a 7/15 day time interval.