Bursitis

Bursitis (synonym: bursitis; plural: bursitis ) is the inflammation of a bursa (Latin bursa synovial ). It is caused by injury, infection, or by continuous irritation, especially at the elbow and knee. Bursitis in veterinary medicine is referred to as bile.

Causes and Symptoms

Because of their superficial position just under the skin, the three skin bursa of the knee joint (Bursa subcutanea prepatellar, infrapatellar bursa subcutanea and Bursa subcutanea tibial tuberosity ) and the elbow ( olecranon bursa subcutanea ) are particularly vulnerable to infections from minor injuries. The symptoms of bursitis are very low in the initial stage. The person feels a rubbing, burning sensation in the kneecap or the elbow. With continued exposure then severe pain, swelling, heat and effusion may occur. Among the most common causes of restriction of movement in the shoulder joint, the subacromial bursitis, which is characterized by rapidly increasing, especially at night violent pain without apparent cause heard.

In sports Ringer suffer because of the intense exposure to increased pressure and friction forces often to bursitis. The cause for such bursitis occurs most frequently a mechanical overload or injury in question.

Bursitis of the elbow

Bursitis of the knee ( prepatellar bursitis ) 10 days after the fall

Olecranon bursitis, emerged after a fall on the elbow

Even in ice hockey athletes often suffer from bursitis after falls on the elbow or after hard body checks. Cooling ointments or gels usually relieve the acute symptoms and with foam inserts in the form of a donut in the elbow pads can usually inflamed site may be protected from re- load.

When students often takes the elbow bursitis ( olecranon bursitis, jokingly " bursitis olecranon Informaticus " ) on. The collection points in frequent reading elbows suffer a permanent mechanical stress that can lead to inflammation. This special form of bursitis is also called elbow students ( student 's elbow). An olecranon bursitis also occurs in other exposed occupational groups such as miners frequently. In animals, the disease is referred to as Stoll bump.

Treatment

Conservative treatment

The affected joint is temporarily immobilized. The inducing activity should be set. A cooling of the painful bursa is usually perceived as pleasant and is anti-inflammatory. More often, there is a laser treatment or ultrasound therapy.

Good results are also obtained with antiseptics: Cooling envelopes with Rivanol ( ethacridine lactate ) or a Chinosol solution ( less yellowing ) let the swelling often go back because the substance penetrates quickly into the inflamed tissue.

When drugs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, or ketoprofen into consideration. This can inhibit the inflammatory response and shorten the duration of symptoms. During long-term use can as a side effect gastrointestinal complaints by the COX- 1 inhibition, especially stomach ulcers occur. The subacromial bursitis local injection of corticosteroids usually rapid pain relief brings, and often the only effective treatment option.

It would be wrong, not even to move the joint in question over a long period of time: thus it can be stiff. It is important therefore a cautious and slow movement without load.

Is the ignition occurred by a bacterial infection, it can also be treated by taking an antibiotic after a doctor's supervision. The agent of choice gyrase inhibitors, such as ciprofloxacin apply.

Surgical treatment

If the inflammation with the above-mentioned measures are not back and it began to take a purulent bursitis, surgical therapy is necessary. In this case, the pus is drained or possibly the whole bursa removed (so-called bursectomy ).

Prevention

Help all measures that avoid mechanical overload caused by frequent or prolonged pressure on the knees and elbows for prevention.

Occupational groups with particularly frequent joint- stressing activities such as tilers should, wherever possible carry, knee and / or elbow pads. Employers must make these available. However, should early symptoms occur can prevent a severe inflammation of some days' rest and cool the affected area.

If the inflammation is due to physical activity, wearing the joints constructed sports or running shoes and a targeted correction of the motion sequence can help. In particularly vulnerable athletes like wrestlers even small abrasions and cracks at the joints should be disinfected (especially at the elbows and knees ) and connected.