Elbow Bursitis

        What are the causes of elbow pain?

• Abuse. Elbow pain is very common in athletes and manual workers of all kinds.
• Trauma. A fall or a blow can cut a small piece of bone. This can block the elbow, with or without pain.
• Tennis player epicondylitis. The pain affects the outer part of the elbow.
• Elbow bursitis A small purse is located between the skin and bone. Its role is to reduce the friction between the bones and skin. In bursitis, bursa fills with fluid and it can reach the size of an egg. Often, it is not painful.
• Arthritis of the elbow. Inflammatory disease characterized by swelling, heat, redness and severe pain and decreased range of motion.
• Problem of cervical origin. The pain is often passed to the upper limbs, which can cause pain in the elbow. A pinched nerve in the neck is very often the cause.

       The etiology of the lesion is represented by repeated pressure and / or friction exerted on the anatomical area.

       These events are typical in the sport of wrestling. Direct fall on the elbow can be the cause of elbow bursitis. Repeated pressure and friction, may be complicated with traumatic inflammatory consequences such as acute haemorrhagic bursitis. When the phenomenon of inflammatory events becomes chronic, then in this case the swelling is a natural response to trauma.

Symptoms

       The main symptom is swelling. Instead, hyperesthesia, pain and functional limitations are detrimental depending on the precise mechanism that evoked the lesion on that area of the elbow. When there is inflammation patient can see if there is a distension of the bag, and can see a mass or subcutaneous irregularities below the olecranon.

Diagnosis

       The diagnosis is revealed by observation and palpation. The observation of the affected body reveal a kind of floating at the elbow. Sometimes elbow bursitis is accompanied by signs of infection such as cellulite, purulent exudate, hyperesthesia, erythema and heat.

Laboratory studies:

• Erythrocyte-sedimentation rate, antinuclear antibodies and rheumatoid factor must be assessed
• Analysis of synovial fluid by aspiration to exclude infection or rheumatic causes
• Will look into uric acid crystals, will perform differential cell count
• Gram stain and culture of synovial fluid
• Gram stain is performed to identify any pathogen.

       Simple plain radiography is useful for identifying osteophytes or other bone diseases that can trigger bursa inflammation. Bone scan is a sensitive test for bursitis, but is performed if the diagnosis is unclear, to exclude other causes of pain. Resonance is useful for identifying joint bursitis. It is helpful to exclude suspected solid tumors and pathologies that require surgery. Differential diagnosis is made with these diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, cellulite, tendonitis, arthritis, septic, fractures, osteoarthritis.

Treatment

       The elbow bursitis can be cured by physical treatments such as cryotherapy, compression, rest and protection to prevent further traumatic events harmful to the area. If you have also an infection, hemorrhage or acute inflammation aspiration is certainly a way to be considered immediately. The aspiration should be done in sterile conditions.