What is bursitis of the elbow joint: types, symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment

Elbow bursitis

is an inflammatory process of aseptic or infectious type. The clinical picture of the diagnosed cases indicates the possibility of the disease occurring in both acute, subacute or chronic forms.

The most striking symptom of the presence of a pathological process is local compaction in the articulation area of the upper limb. The chronic form involves systematic pain (minor or moderate).

Diagnosis is carried out taking into account clinical manifestations, the degree of pain intensity, as well as the results of instrumental research methods.

What is elbow bursitis?

The disease in question is one of the most common types of inflammation of the joint and the accumulation of serous or purulent exudate (effusion) inside its cavity.

The development of most diagnosed cases is provoked by overloads and numerous microtraumas of the elbow. Among the patients there are athletes, people working in conditions of increased complexity (hard work), as well as those who, due to some characteristics, often rest their elbows on the table.

The risk group includes people of different ages, mostly young and middle-aged men.

The treatment plan is determined individually, taking into account the degree of intensity of symptoms, as well as the type of disease and clinical picture of a particular patient.

Signs and symptoms

Patients usually notice swelling in the back of the elbow (sometimes the swelling is painless).
Pressure, such as resting on the elbow or friction against a table while writing with one hand, are factors that aggravate the pain.
A typical symptom of BLO is frequent touching (hitting, pushing) the swollen elbow because it protrudes more than usual.
There is a possibility that during the history taking the patient will tell a story of isolated trauma or repetitive microtrauma. Onset may be sudden when the bursitis is associated with infection or acute injury. When BLO occurs due to chronic irritation, the manifestation of the disease will be less rapid.

Pathological anatomy of the disease

The cause of exacerbation of the symptomatic picture and the need for a therapeutic complex is inflammation of the bursa.

A bursa is a slit-type formation located relatively close to protruding bony areas, within which there is a relatively small amount of fluid.

The key function of the bursa is to cushion and protect the periarticular tissues from excessive pressure or excessive friction.

With systematic microtraumas, as well as increased pressure inside the joint, aseptic inflammation may occur, which will result in the active release of fluid from the bursa membrane. Depending on the amount of fluid produced, local swelling appears, caused by protrusion of the filled cavity.

Classification

Specialists involved in the diagnosis and treatment of elbow bursitis have created a classification that allows you to select the most effective treatment plan. Let us consider the types of inflammation of the hand joint according to various criteria in more detail.

Bursitis is classified according to the location of the pathological process:

subcutaneous ulna;
radioulnar;
interosseous.

Depending on the characteristics of the course of the disease, three forms are distinguished:

acute;
subacute;
chronic.

The type of illness is also determined by the nature of the inflammatory fluid. So, inflammation is isolated:

serous;
hemorrhagic;
fibrinous;
purulent.

And as the last classification criterion, the type of pathogenic microorganisms is determined, according to which two groups of infected elbow inflammation are distinguished:

nonspecific (caused by staphylococcus or streptococcus);
specific (caused by spirochete pallidum, tuberculosis microbacteria, as well as gonococci and other pathogens).

The most difficult to treat is purulent bursitis of the elbow joint, in which it is difficult to avoid surgical intervention.

Diagnostic procedures

Laboratory tests are very important for differentiating septic bursitis from aseptic bursitis. However, blood tests are usually not informative. If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, then treatment should be carried out as for a septic case until the results of cultivation (seeding for microflora) are obtained.

Differential diagnosis

Rheumatoid arthritis.
Injuries due to overuse.
Gout and pseudogout.
Fractures of the olecranon.
Avulsion of the triceps tendon.

Causes of elbow bursitis

Like any other pathological condition of the human body, the disease in question is provoked by various types of reasons.

The causes of bursitis of the elbow joint can be determined by various types of factors and prerequisites, which are usually included:

previous injury (bruise)
– the negative impact of optimal force on the tip of the elbow can provoke fluid secretion, inflammation and local swelling;
Providing long-term impact (support on a hard surface, etc.)
– constant pressure can cause swelling, which will provoke the development of pathological processes;
infection
– in a situation where an infection enters the body through damage to the skin, certain consequences may occur, including inflammation of the joint cavity;
development of concomitant diseases
– illnesses associated with multiple lesions can cause an unwanted inflammatory process.

Why does inflammation occur?

Bursitis occurs in most cases due to injury to the elbow. If you hit yourself accidentally, you are surprised to find a tumor on the bend of your elbow after some time. The accumulation of fluid under the skin is determined by touch. Bursitis occurs as a result of:

the elbow is under tension for a long time when performing labor activities;
salts are deposited in the joint due to non-compliance with nutritional rules;
are treated with steroid drugs for a long time.

The bursa area becomes inflamed as a result of infection of the bone tissue. An increase in fluid in one of the synovial sacs will be a consequence of arthritis, rheumatism, arthrosis, gout. The pathological process spreads throughout the body, affecting most of the joints.

Risk group

People at risk for developing this type of pathology include:

who are forced to monotonously repeat mechanical actions characteristic of a certain professional specificity;
whose life is closely connected with sports activities that involve repetition of movements;
those suffering from pathologies of the respiratory system, which forces them to lean on their elbows to facilitate the flow of air into the lungs.

Symptoms of elbow bursitis

Before understanding the type of disease present and forming an idea of the upcoming treatment plan, it is necessary to have an idea of the symptomatic picture.

Symptoms of elbow bursitis include:

local swelling and increased skin temperature
– the first and one of the main symptoms of pathology (“bump” the size of a goose egg);
pain syndrome of varying degrees of intensity
– the stronger the swelling, the brighter and more intense the pain, which intensifies with pressure on the inflamed area or flexion/extension of the limb;
Read also: Arthro-Active, tablets - description and instructions for use
visual changes
– with the development of an active inflammatory process, the affected area acquires a reddish tint;
limited mobility
– the range of motion does not change, but performing a number of them may be difficult due to pain.

It is important to note that acute forms can cause severe pain in a situation where the articulation cavity is transformed in the process of movement. Symptoms may be vague.

When a relapse occurs, there is pain and limited mobility for a period of several days to several weeks.

How to hold out until you see the doctor

With acute bursitis, patients may experience severe pain. To alleviate the condition, you can do the following yourself:

apply a pressure bandage, being careful not to squeeze the tissue too much;
fix the site of the lesion so that the limb is constantly at rest;
if there is no purulent inflammation, the patient’s general condition does not suffer, then apply a warm compress; with elevated body temperature, swelling and hyperemia of the skin over the joints, it is better to apply cold
give the limb an elevated position.

All this will only reduce the pain and allow you to wait for qualified assistance. Therefore, you should not postpone your visit to the doctor.

Which doctor should I contact if symptoms of elbow bursitis appear?

In a situation where one or several symptoms of elbow bursitis are observed, the time comes to find the answer to the question “Who should I turn to for help?”

Diagnosis and treatment can be carried out by several specialists, which include:

therapist (primary superficial diagnosis and referral to a specialist);
orthopedist-traumatologist (initial examination and development of a treatment plan);
rheumatologist (providing professional assistance if clinical data consistent with inflammatory arthropathy);
orthopedic surgeon (if, in parallel with the inflammatory process, there is a crack or immediate surgical intervention is required).

Based on the results of seeking medical help, the need for hospitalization in a hospital is determined, indications for which may include exacerbation of septic bursitis, aggravation of the pathology by concomitant infections, as well as the lack of a positive effect from the treatment already completed.

Methods for detecting bursitis

The diagnosis of infection is made on the basis of an x-ray examination. The image determines the presence of fluid in the bursa and its location. Determine whether there are osteophytes on the bone process. The growths are often localized in the fossa of the elbow joint and lead to an increase in degenerative processes in bone tissue.

Taking a puncture will allow you to study the composition of the liquid. The laboratory will determine at what stage of development the disease is. To diagnose bursitis, it is necessary to take blood for leukocytosis and ESR. A serological test of venous blood will be required.

Diagnostic features

The diagnostic process is based on a patient interview, clinical assessment of existing symptoms and, of course, direct examination. To clarify the suspected diagnosis, instrumental research methods are additionally used, including:

radiographic examination
– the examination results allow us to exclude the possibility of a bone fracture or the presence of foreign bodies, salt deposits, etc.;
ultrasonography
– forms an overall picture for visualizing the situation, allowing you to fully assess the condition of the walls and the volume of inflammatory fluid;
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
– detailing the results obtained provides the opportunity to confirm/refute the diagnosis and exclude other assumptions;
puncture
– sampling the contents of the cavity allows you to determine the type of fluid, which is of particular importance when making a diagnosis. It is important to note that during the collection of material for research, therapeutic manipulations may be carried out.

In addition, a number of additional laboratory tests are carried out (clinical and biochemical blood tests, detection of C-reactive protein and rheumatological tests), which makes it possible to verify the accuracy of the diagnosis and makes it possible to assess the severity of the existing pathological process.

Advantages of Dr. Elshansky I.V.

Our clinic, located in the center of Moscow, traditionally deals with bursitis of various types and locations.

Main competitive advantages:

Doctor with extensive (over 25 years) experience, Ph.D.
The ability to perform all necessary manipulations immediately, on the day of treatment, incl. ultrasound guided punctures
If necessary, an ultrasound scan is performed immediately during the appointment and is included in the cost.
We do not prescribe unnecessary tests and examinations, and if there is still a need for them, we do not require them to be done exclusively in our clinic
Qualified, polite staff
No queues - we plan the time and accept appointments strictly by appointment
Convenient transport accessibility - 5 minutes walk from Turgenevskaya metro station, Chisty Prudy, Sretensky Boulevard

Treatment of elbow bursitis

Treatment of bursitis of the elbow joint is determined exclusively on an individual basis, after a thorough diagnosis, taking into account the existing clinical picture and medical history of the patient.

As with any other ailment, the best results in the treatment process can only be achieved with an integrated approach, involving a combination of conservative agents and other techniques.

Let's look at the main methods of treating elbow bursitis in more detail.

Conservative treatment

Involves the use of medication. The impact can be provided by drugs of various forms, in particular, local effects.

Among the most prescribed groups of drugs are:

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) – reduce inflammation and relieve pain;
antibiotics - help fight infections in the septic form;
corticosteroids - intra-articular injections are especially effective in situations where you need to quickly and effectively eliminate pain;
chondroprotectors – provide the opportunity to activate the process of tissue restoration.

Chondroprotectors are of particular importance in conservative treatment, promoting the restoration of affected tissues and improving functionality. Their use is also advisable during the period of remission, which gives additional confidence in maintaining a healthy elbow during a chronic disease. Artracam is considered to be one of the best drugs in this category.

Physiotherapy

The use of physiotherapeutic treatment methods accelerates the recovery of the functional abilities of the upper extremities and has a large number of other advantages. Among the most effective and widely used physiotherapeutic techniques are:

attending massage sessions (course);
exposure to the affected area with ultrasound/laser/electric current;
phonophoresis.

The duration of courses of physiotherapeutic treatment is determined by the attending physician, taking into account the characteristics of the patient’s recovery process and the characteristics of the pathology.

Radical methods

Despite the fact that most cases of elbow disease do not require surgical treatment, radical methods of its treatment still exist and are used in situations where conservative therapy and physical treatment do not give the necessary result (more than 2 months of starting treatment or in situations where secondary pathologies form).

The most effective and used method of radical therapy is endoscopic excision of inflamed tissue, which belongs to the category of minimally invasive surgical interventions.

External epicondylitis of the humerus

It is expressed in sharp pain in the area of the outer epicondyle of the humerus - this is a bone protruding from the outside in the area of the elbow joint. If you put your hands on your belt and try to walk through a doorway, these are the bones with which you will hit the frame. The brachioradialis muscle (m.brahioradialis), which is responsible for dorsiflexion of the hand, is attached to this bone. In a non-professional environment, this movement is called extension. Inflammation occurs at the place of attachment to the humerus - the external epicondyle. It occurs due to overstrain of muscle fibers, which can occur due to repetitive movements of the same type: working with a hoe, practicing with a tennis racket or spinning rod.

If such loads occur spontaneously after a long break, this is often the cause of the onset of inflammation. The fact is that during the rest period we often lean on a table top or handrails or hold a smartphone in our hands, so this muscle is in a shortened state. When we begin to work with a contracted muscle, the load on the attachment site increases, which leads to inflammation, accompanied by partial breakage of muscle fibers, which causes even greater inflammation. Since this area is poorly supplied with blood and is often subjected to stress, the inflammation drags on and becomes chronic. In the patient, external epicondylitis causes great discomfort: the pain makes it difficult to pick up a teapot or cup, and sharply intensifies with any muscle tension in the hand and straightening the arm at the elbow joint.

Possible complications and prognosis of patients with diagnosed bursitis of the elbow joint

Like any other disease, ulnar bursitis has certain prognoses, which were formed thanks to a large number of cases of medical practice.

In the vast majority of cases, the development of pathology does not lead to serious restrictions on the mobility of the arms (mostly the joint).

In the absence of an infectious lesion, positive dynamics are observed in the near future after the start of complex treatment (in conjunction with a system of anti-inflammatory drug therapy).

However, it is important to say that in rare cases, a relapse may occur, in which even minor swelling and mild pain can trigger the release of a large amount of fluid.

Refusal of treatment or untimely assistance may aggravate the situation and complicate the treatment process.

Why and how acute bursitis develops

To understand how bursitis differs from arthritis, you need to know the anatomy and physiology of the osteoarticular system. Each joint is surrounded by a joint capsule. Its inflammation is called arthritis. But besides this bag, there are others located next to the bone of the joint, surrounded by a synovial membrane and capsule, which help the tissues slide relative to each other. These synovial bursae (bursae) are closed in nature and act as shock absorbers. If an inflammatory process develops in the bursa, it is called bursitis. When the inner lining of the bursa, which secretes fluid, becomes inflamed, the permeability of the walls of its vessels increases, the fluid collects in the bursa, causing characteristic swelling and increase in volume (protrusion).

The cause of inflammation is open and closed injuries. The inflammation is sterile or infectious in nature. Very often, sterile (without infection) becomes infectious when infection penetrates into the site of inflammation through the skin or with blood from other organs and tissues.

Sometimes bursitis is secondary, developing against the background of an existing infection (tuberculosis, brucellosis, etc.)

Preventive measures

The best method of treating diseases is their timely prevention. To avoid having to experience the effectiveness of modern treatment methods, it is best to take preventive measures. Let's try to figure out what these include.

Disease Prevention

A number of simple recommendations will help prevent elbow bursitis, compliance with which will ensure the ability to maintain healthy joints and the overall level of quality of life:

Preventing injuries, ensuring skin protection.
Providing high-quality first aid for injuries to the skin or joint.
Timely seeking medical help.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Quitting bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol, overeating).
Attending preventive medical examinations.
Preventive use of a course of chondroprotectors like Artracam.

Standard recommendations

In the initial stages of development, bursitis is treated at home. If characteristic symptoms occur, joint immobilization is performed. To do this, you need to apply a bandage made of an elastic bandage and limit the mobility of the joint without doing your usual work. After the diagnosis has been confirmed, the main condition is ensured - no load on the affected elbow. Immobilization is carried out using a pressure, scarf or elbow bandage. A possible option is the use of a special orthopedic device.

If there has been damage to the skin (bursitis of traumatic origin), the wound is treated with antiseptics, and then several layers of sterile bandage are applied.

Acute inflammation or exacerbation of a chronic process involves simple but effective methods:

Tablets - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, preferably of a new generation (Doloxen, Nimesil, Celebrex, Arcosia - are more effective and have fewer side effects. In most sources you can still find advice to use Ibuprofen or Butadione, but these are just well-known names, since their development which decades have passed.In case of severe pain, you can take aspirin or Analgin, but as a complementary remedy, and not the main means of eliminating the pain symptom.
The acute process requires the mandatory use of oral medications to supply anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds from the inside. External agents are used directly at the site of the lesion, but have an external effect without penetrating to the inflammatory focus. The doctor may prescribe both tablets and ointments if quick elimination of an advanced disease is necessary.
Antibiotics are prescribed provided that the cause of bursitis is a bacterial or microbial lesion, the infection has penetrated into the synovial bursa from another lesion, or has become the result of a systemic lesion. Recommendations for the prophylactic use of such drugs are unacceptable. The pathogenic agent may have resistance to the selected series. It is unacceptable to take them just because the name seemed familiar or someone recommended it.
It is much better if the selection of medication was carried out by an orthopedist who knows about the infection based on the results of the tests obtained. Immediate antibiotics are prescribed only for purulent processes; common prescriptions are Amoxiclav or Lincomycin. However, these names are not a recommendation for drugs for any source of pus. A doctor’s recommendation is also necessary to determine the dosage and duration of the course of treatment.
On the first day, when the inflammatory process has just started, simple cold water compresses are used. They are applied often, but for a short period of time.
Dimexide, in solution or in combination with Novocaine, is used for pain relief and anti-inflammatory action, applying a moistened gauze bandage no more than 3 times a day, according to the standard scheme - the joint is covered with gauze moistened with a diluted drug, then polyethylene is applied, the joint is fixed with natural fabric

The ointment has a good effect and alleviates the patient's suffering. The range of ointments with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components is wide, the effect on the affected joint is prolonged, but the choice of topical application is also best left to the doctor.