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Elbow Bursitis
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Elbow Bursitis
When you rub your elbow, you can feel the hard bones of your forearm. What you
can’t feel is the olecranon (oh-LEK-ra-non) bursa, a slippery sac between the loose
skin of the elbow and the bones of your forearm.
Normally, the bursa acts as a cushion between the skin and the bone. But if the elbow
is hit, or if you put constant pressure against the tip of the elbow (as when you lean on
a desk or other hard surface), the bursa can become inflamed and irritated, a condition
called bursitis. The bursa begins to swell, and may create a lump over the tip of the
elbow. |
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Often elbow bursitis is called Popeye's Elbow. You can see the
resemblance between the picture and the elbows of the cartoon character.
There are three general causes of elbow bursitis:
Inflammation, such as from pressure on the bursa or from
inflammatory conditions.
A sudden injury, such as a blow to the elbow, causing bleeding or
fluid buildup
Infection caused by any of the following:
- An injury at the site of the bursa
- An infection in tissue near the bursa that spreads to the bursa
Treatment of Elbow Bursitis
Treatment for sudden (acute) bursitis may include drainage of excess
fluid in the sac with a needle, followed by injections of medications
into the sac to decrease inflammation and promote healing.
Treatment for ongoing (chronic) bursitis focuses on educating the
person to avoid leaning on the elbows, protecting the elbows during
sports activities with elbow pads, and using anti-inflammatory
medications. Antibiotic medications may be needed to treat infection,
and surgery may be needed to drain or remove (excise) the bursa.
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Modified 7-38-08
Bursitis Picture | |
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