Olecranon Bursitis

What Is Olecranon Bursitis

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Description

The olecranon (oh-LEH-cruh-nahn) is the pointy bone at the tip of the elbow.  The bursa is the thin sac of fluid that lies between this boney tip and the skin.  It helps the skin slide over the bone smoothly.  Normally, this sac has only a tiny bit of fluid inside of it and lays flat.  However, the bursa can become irritated or inflamed and fill with extra fluid (see Figure 1).  When this happens, a painful swelling develops at the back of the elbow.  This swelling is olecranon bursitis.

Causes

Trauma, such as hitting the elbow or falling on the back of the elbow, can lead to this condition.  People who lean their elbows against hard surfaces can develop this problem over time.  Those with conditions such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or kidney failure needing dialysis can be more likely to get this condition.  In many cases, the cause is not known.

Signs & Symptoms

Gradual swelling at the back of the elbow might not be noticed at first.  Sometimes the swelling develops quickly.  The swelling can worsen to look like a soft golf ball at the tip of the elbow (see Figure 2).  Most of the time, the bursitis does not cause pain.  The bursa can become infected, which will cause tenderness, redness, or warmth in the area; you may also have a fever.  An infected bursa can break open and drain pus.

Treatment

Diagnosis

Your doctor might order an x-ray to look for a broken bone, bone spur, or calcium deposit at the elbow (see Figure 3).  Blood tests to check for infection in your system or another cause, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis, might be used.  Some fluid might be removed from the bursa with a needle and sent for testing.  If the fluid in the bursa is pus, then an infection is present there.

Treatment

If the bursa does not seem to be infected, then treatments can include avoiding activities that are irritating the area, applying a snug elbow wrap or elbow pads, or taking oral anti-inflammatory medications.  Your doctor might also choose to remove the fluid from the bursa first with a needle (aspiration).  Sometimes a steroid injection is also placed into the bursa.  If the bursa is infected, antibiotics might be needed.  Sometimes the bursa has to be removed with surgery if the infection cannot be cleared or if the bursa keeps returning.

Figure 1 - Elbow anatomy with swollen olecranon bursa
Figure 1 – Elbow anatomy with swollen olecranon bursa
Figure 2 - Swollen olecranon bursa
Figure 2 – Swollen olecranon bursa
Figure 3 - X-ray of elbow showing soft-tissue outline of olecranon bursa and a calcium deposit
Figure 3 – X-ray of elbow showing soft-tissue outline of olecranon bursa and a calcium deposit

Orthopedic Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is located in Downtown Portland Oregon. Dr. Dominic Patillo, one of our Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeons, specializes in hand surgery. His practice focuses on the treatment of both simple and complex hand and upper extremity conditions as well as general orthopaedic trauma. He is experienced with modern microsurgical techniques including nerve and vessel reconstruction.

Common problems treated include:

  • carpal tunnel syndrome
  • tennis elbow
  • wrist pain
  • sports injuries of the hand and wrist
  • fractures of the hand, wrist, and forearm
  • trigger finger

Other problems treated can include arthritis, nerve and tendon injuries, and congenital limb differences (birth defects).

If you have pain in your fingers, hand, wrist or arm, or if you have other upper-extremity related concerns, please consult our hand specialist Dr. Dominic Patillo for a consultation.