Bursitis

Bursitis

Example of elbow bursitis
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 M70-M71
ICD-9 727.3
DiseasesDB 31623
MedlinePlus 000419
eMedicine emerg/74
MeSH D002062

Bursitis is the inflammation of one or more bursae (small sacs) of synovial fluid in the body. They are lined with a synovial membrane that secretes a lubricating synovial fluid.[1] There are more than 150 bursae in the human body.[2] The bursae rest at the points where internal functionaries, such as muscles and tendons, slide across bone. Healthy bursae create a smooth, almost frictionless functional gliding surface making normal movement painless. When bursitis occurs, however, movement relying upon the inflamed bursa becomes difficult and painful. Moreover, movement of tendons and muscles over the inflamed bursa aggravates its inflammation, perpetuating the problem. Muscle can also be stiffened.

Signs and symptoms

Bursitis commonly affects superficial bursae. These include the subacromial, prepatellar, retrocalcaneal, and pes anserinus bursae.[3] Symptoms vary from localized warmth and erythema [4] to joint pain and stiffness, to stinging pain that surrounds the joint around the inflamed bursa. In this condition, the pain usually is worse during and after activity, and then the bursa and the surrounding joint become stiff the next morning.

Cause

The etiologies are often multifactorial. Trauma, auto-immune disorders, infection and iatrogenic etiologies can all cause bursitis.[5] Bursitis is commonly caused by repetitive movement and excessive pressure. Shoulders, elbows and knees are the most commonly affected. Inflammation of the bursae might also be caused by other inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus and gout. Immune deficiencies, including HIV and diabetes, can also cause bursitis.[6] Infrequently, scoliosis can cause bursitis of the shoulders; however, shoulder bursitis is more commonly caused by overuse of the shoulder joint and related muscles.[7]

Traumatic injury is another cause of bursitis. The inflammation irritates because the bursa no longer fits in the original small area between the bone and the functionary muscle or tendon. When the bone increases pressure upon the bursa, bursitis results. Sometimes the reason is unknown. It can also be associated with some chronic systemic diseases.

Examples by site

The most common examples of this condition:

Treatment

It is important to differentiate between infected and non-infected bursitis. People may have surrounding cellulitis and systemic symptoms include a fever. The bursa should be aspirated to rule out an infectious process.[9]

Bursae that are not infected can be treated symptomatically with rest, ice, elevation, physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory drugs and pain medication. Since bursitis is caused by increased friction from the adjacent structures, a compression bandage is not suggested because compression would create more friction around the joint. Chronic bursitis can be amenable to bursectomy and aspiration.[10]

Bursae that are infected require further investigation and antibiotic therapy. Steroid therapy may also be considered.[11] In cases when all conservative treatment fails, surgical therapy may be necessary. In a bursectomy the bursa is cut out either endoscopically or with open surgery. The bursa grows back in place after a couple of weeks but without any inflammatory component.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ghelman, Vincent J. Vigorita ; with Bernard; Mintz, Douglas (2008). Orthopaedic pathology (2nd ed. ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. p. 719. ISBN 978-0-7817-9670-5.
  2. ↑ Ghelman, Vincent J. Vigorita ; with Bernard; Mintz, Douglas (2008). Orthopaedic pathology (2nd ed. ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. p. 719. ISBN 978-0-7817-9670-5.
  3. ↑ Ghelman, Vincent J. Vigorita ; with Bernard; Mintz, Douglas (2008). Orthopaedic pathology (2nd ed. ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. p. 719. ISBN 978-0-7817-9670-5.
  4. ↑ Ghelman, Vincent J. Vigorita ; with Bernard; Mintz, Douglas (2008). Orthopaedic pathology (2nd ed. ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. p. 719. ISBN 978-0-7817-9670-5.
  5. ↑ Ghelman, Vincent J. Vigorita ; with Bernard; Mintz, Douglas (2008). Orthopaedic pathology (2nd ed. ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. p. 719. ISBN 978-0-7817-9670-5.
  6. ↑ Ghelman, Vincent J. Vigorita ; with Bernard; Mintz, Douglas (2008). Orthopaedic pathology (2nd ed. ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. p. 719. ISBN 978-0-7817-9670-5.
  7. ↑ "Shoulder Bursitis".
  8. ↑ Fauci, Anthony (2010). Harrison's Rheumatology, Second Edition. McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing; Digital Edition. p. 271. ISBN 9780071741460.
  9. ↑ Ghelman, Vincent J. Vigorita ; with Bernard; Mintz, Douglas (2008). Orthopaedic pathology (2nd ed. ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-7817-9670-5.
  10. ↑ Ghelman, Vincent J. Vigorita ; with Bernard; Mintz, Douglas (2008). Orthopaedic pathology (2nd ed. ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. p. 719. ISBN 978-0-7817-9670-5.
  11. ↑ Ghelman, Vincent J. Vigorita ; with Bernard; Mintz, Douglas (2008). Orthopaedic pathology (2nd ed. ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-7817-9670-5.

External links

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