Elbow bursitis occurs when the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac, becomes irritated or inflamed. In your elbow, this sac is called the olecranon bursa, and it’s located at the bony tip of your elbow. Usually, the bursa is flat and contains only a small amount of fluid. However, when irritation or trauma occurs, extra fluid builds up inside the sac, causing the bursa to swell.
Orthopedic experts at Summit Orthopedics in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area treat elbow bursitis with the highest level of care. We aim to accurately diagnose your condition and create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.
What Causes Elbow Bursitis?
Elbow bursitis has several different causes:
- Infection. If an insect bite or wound breaks the skin, bacteria can enter the bursa and cause it to swell.
- Injury. A hard hit or a fall directly onto the tip of the elbow can cause the bursa to produce extra fluid.
- Prolonged pressure. Your bursa can swell if you lean your elbow on a hard surface for a long time. This is sometimes called “student’s elbow.”
- Other health conditions. Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout and kidney failure can make you more likely to develop elbow bursitis.
Symptoms of Elbow Bursitis
Symptoms of elbow bursitis usually include:
- Pain that gets worse when you bend your elbow or put pressure on it
- Swelling, which is usually the first sign
An infected elbow may also have these symptoms:
- Pain with elbow motion
- Redness of the skin over the elbow
- Skin that’s warm
Diagnosis and Treatment
Your doctor can often diagnose elbow bursitis by evaluating your symptoms and looking at your arm and elbow. If your doctor needs more details, they may order imaging and a test to check for bacteria in your elbow.
Treatment depends on whether you have an infection.
Noninfected Bursitis Treatment
Treatment for bursitis without infection involves avoiding pressure on your elbow by protecting it with a pad or wrap. You may also take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, to reduce pain and swelling.
Infected Bursitis Treatment
Infected bursitis needs prompt treatment to get rid of the bacteria causing the infection. This could include oral or IV antibiotics, fluid aspiration (a procedure where fluid is drained from the bursa using a needle) to evaluate the fluid, or surgery to wash out any remaining infection.
Surgical Treatment
Your doctor may recommend surgery if nonsurgical treatments do not work or you have a serious infection.
Surgery to fix elbow bursitis is called bursectomy. During this procedure, your surgeon removes the swollen bursa. After the surgery, the arm is kept safe in a splint, and you may be able to use your elbow fully again after about three to four weeks.
Preventing Elbow Bursitis
There are steps you can take to help prevent elbow bursitis.
- Clean any cuts or scrapes on your elbow immediately to prevent bacteria from causing infections.
- Avoid activities that put pressure on your elbow. If you have a job or hobby that requires you to lean on your elbows for long periods of time, take frequent breaks and use padding to support your elbow.
Care for Elbow Bursitis at Summit Orthopedics
Elbow bursitis can cause pain that makes even simple daily movements difficult. At Summit Orthopedics, our goal is to relieve your symptoms, treat any existing infection and prevent the elbow bursitis from getting worse. If surgery is the most effective treatment, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons are fellowship-trained and experienced in elbow surgery.
Summit Orthopedics surgeons are available at nearly 30 convenient locations across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our state-of-the-art, comprehensive orthopedic centers offer same-day appointments from a team of experts who offer the full scope of orthopedic care.
Find your Summit Orthopedics elbow expert, request an appointment or call us at (651) 968-5201 to schedule a consultation.
