Olecranon Bursitis: Elbow Bursitis
Hand and Finger Procedures & Conditions | Dr. William Van Wyk, DFW Hand Surgeon
Olecranon Bursitis: Elbow Bursitis
Hand and Finger Procedures & Conditions | Dr. William Van Wyk, DFW Hand Surgeon
Click image to enlarge
Photo Credit: American Society for Surgery to the Hand
What is olecranon bursitis?
The olecranon (oh-LEH-cruh-nahn) is the “pointy” bone at the tip of the elbow. A “bursa”—a small sac of fluid—covers the tip of this bone, allowing soft tissues such as the skin to slide over the bone. Normally, this sac has only a tiny amount of fluid inside of it and is essentially flat. However, sometimes, this area gets irritated, and the body makes extra fluid inside the sac (Fig. 1). This bursa normally acts as a cushion between the skin and the elbow bone, but when it gets irritated or inflamed, it can cause swelling, pain, and sometimes a noticeable lump. This can cause a big “balloon” to form at the tip of the elbow.
Click image to enlarge
Photo Credit: American Society for Surgery to the Hand
What causes olecranon bursitis?
There are many different causes of this extra fluid collection. Leaning on the elbow a lot or even hitting it on an object once can result in swelling. People who rest their elbows on hard objects while studying, talking on the phone, working out, or driving often have this problem. Some systemic diseases (like gout and rheumatoid arthritis) and procedures (dialysis for kidney failure) can be associated with olecranon bursitis as well. If bacteria enter the bursa through a cut, scrape, or other injury, it can lead to an infection, causing the bursa to become inflamed. Sometimes a calcium deposit may form in the olecranon bursa (Fig. 2). In some cases, the cause is unknown.
Click image to enlarge
Photo Credit: American Society for Surgery to the Hand
How do I know if I have olecranon bursitis?
Olecranon bursitis usually looks somewhat like a golf ball on the tip of the elbow (Fig. 3). It can develop quickly or over time. Most of the time, the bursitis does not cause pain. If there is pain, tenderness, redness, or warmth in the area, or if you have a fever, there might be an infection. Up to 20% of the time, olecranon bursitis is “septic,” or infected with bacteria.
What are the treatments for olecranon bursitis?
Your doctor likely will ask questions to try to determine if you have a systemic disease that might need to be treated in order to treat the olecranon bursitis. Most people do not.
If you do not have pain, your doctor might recommend a resting splint and compression to rest the bursa and help speed recovery. Sometimes elbow pads can help, especially if you find that you are one of those people who tend to lean on the tip of the elbow a lot.
Your doctor might want to use a needle to draw fluid out of the bursa (aspiration), especially if s/he is worried that there might be an infection. If there is an infection, antibiotics and fluid removal might cure the infection. Sometimes the infection is hard to cure with antibiotics and surgery is needed. If the bursa is not infected, and the bursitis continues to be a problem, additional treatment options may include repeated aspiration, cortisone injection and surgery.
Material modified from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.
Dr Van Wyk and his staff are the only ones who have Completed my Insurance/STD paperwork timely
Healthgrades Review, Nov 2, 2023
It starts with the Staff. His staff is excellent. 1) If there in office they Answer. 2) If its clinic day or there out, they got back to me timely. 3) No answering machine, an actual Answering Service who will text Dr or staff your issue. Dr Van Wyk was thorough with my exam, explained options and procedure process for each option. He scheduled me for additional tests to ensure his diagnosis. The staff even checked with the referred test center to make sure they took my insurance, something I have had issues with my other doctors’
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Specializing in Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery in Fort Worth Since 1977
Dr. Van Wyk is a hand and upper extremity specialist actively practicing in Fort Worth since 1977. Dr. Van Wyk is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and has practiced in that specialty. He passed the added qualification in hand surgery exam and has limited his practice to 100% hand and upper extremity surgery.
In Dr. Van Wyk’s practice, upper extremity surgery refers to the elbow, forearm, wrist and hand. As a hand specialist, he sees approximately 300 hand patient visits per month and performs on average 90-100 surgical procedures per month. Dr.Van Wyk is a member of the American Society for Surgery the Hand, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Fort Worth-Dallas Hand Association, the American Medical Association, and the Tarrant County Medical Association.
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