Bursitis
Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
What is bursitis?
Bursitis is
inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a tiny
fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between
tissues of the body. There are 160 bursae in the body. The major bursae are located adjacent to the
tendons near the large joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips,
and knees.
How does a bursa become inflamed?
A bursa can
become inflamed from injury, infection (rare in the shoulder), or underlying
rheumatic condition. Examples include injury as subtle as lifting a bag of
groceries into the car to inflame the shoulder bursa (shoulder bursitis),
infection of the bursa in front of the knee from a knee scraping on asphalt
(septic prepatellar bursitis), and inflammation of the elbow bursa from gout
crystals (gouty olecranon bursitis).
How is bursitis diagnosed?
Bursitis is typically identified by localized pain or swelling, tenderness, and pain with motion of the tissues in the affected area. X-ray testing can sometime detect calcifications in the bursa when bursitis has been chronic or recurrent.
How is bursitis treated?
The treatment of any form of
bursitis depends on whether or not it involves infection. Bursitis that is not
infected (from injury or underlying rheumatic disease) can be treated with ice
compresses, rest, and antiinflammatory and pain medications. Occasionally, it
requires aspiration of the bursa fluid. This procedure involves removal of the
fluid with a needle and syringe under sterile conditions. It can be performed in
the doctor's office. Sometimes the fluid is sent to the laboratory for further
analysis. Noninfectious bursitis can also be treated with a cortisone injection into the swollen bursa. This is sometimes done at the same time as the aspiration procedure and typically rapidly reduces the inflammation of the swollen bursa.
Infectious
(septic) bursitis requires even further evaluation and aggressive treatment. The bursal fluid can be examined
in the laboratory for the microbes causing the infection. Septic bursitis
requires antibiotic therapy, sometimes intravenously. Repeated aspiration of the inflamed fluid may be
required. Surgical drainage and removal of the infected bursa sac
(bursectomy) may also be necessary. Generally, the adjacent joint functions normally after the surgical wound heals.
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From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com  |
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- Cortisone Injection - Read about cortisone injection treatment for inflammation, allergic reaction, sciatica and arthritis. Learn about side effects and complications of a cortisone shot. Source:MedicineNet
- Rheumatoid Arthritis - Learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes chronic joint inflammation, which has symptoms that include stiffness, fever, muscle and joint aches, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis incorporates the use of first-line drugs (aspirin and corticosteroids for pain and inflammation) and second-line drugs (methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine to prevent joint destruction and promote remission). Source:MedicineNet
- Gout - Get information on gout treatments, causes, symptoms, and medication. Learn how altering your diet and avoiding alcohol and foods high in purines may reduce uric acid levels and prevent attacks and gout pain. Source:MedicineNet
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Last Editorial Review: 8/29/2007
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