Bursitis

The acute or chronic inflammation of a bursa.

A bursa is a sac containing a small amount of synovial fluid that lies between a tendon and either skin or bone to act as a friction buffer. There are >150 bursae in the body and these can be deep (e.g., the subacromial bursa) or superficial (e.g., the olecranon bursa).

In bursitis there is thickening and proliferation of the synovial lining, bursal adhesions, villus formation, tags, and deposition of chalky deposits. This may result from repetitive stress, infection, autoimmune disease, or trauma.

Key diagnostic findings are localized pain and tenderness over a bursa and swelling if superficially sited.

Treatment for nonseptic bursitis involves modified physical activity, rest, and analgesia. Corticosteroid injections are reserved for those cases that do not respond to conservative management. Bursal excision is a last resort.

The first-line treatment for septic bursitis is aspiration and antibiotic therapy. Surgical debridement and lavage may be required.

Bursitis is an acute or chronic inflammatory condition of a bursa. A bursa is a jelly-like sac that usually contains a small amount of synovial fluid. A bursa lies between a tendon and either bone or skin to act as a friction buffer and facilitate movement of adjacent structures. Over 150 bursae are located throughout the human body. Some are superficial and more vulnerable; others are deeper and better protected. In primary care, bursitis most commonly presents in the knee, subacromial (subdeltoid), trochanteric, retrocalcaneal, and olecranon bursae.