Bursitis

Question 1

Bursitis

Answer 1

Acute or chronic inflammation of a bursa

Question 2

Most common types of bursitis

Answer 2

• Knee
• Subacromial (deltoid)
• Trochanteric (hip)
• Retrocalcaneal (heel)
• Olecranon (elbow)

Question 3

Function of bursae

Answer 3

• jelly-like sacs containing small volume synovial fluid
• lie between skin/tendon or tendon/bone
• acts as friction buffer
• faciltates movements of adjacent structures

Question 4

Clinical features of bursitis

Answer 4

• pain at bursa site
• tenderness on palpation
• reduced active movement (passive spared)
• swelling/erythema (depending on how superficial)

Question 5

Two specific signs indicative of a bursitis

Answer 5

• painful arc (subacromial)
• lateral hip pain (trochanteric)

Question 6

Risk factors for developing bursitis

Answer 6

• occupation (mechanical stress)
• rheumatoid arthritis
• gout
• penetrating injury
• osteoarthritis
• nearby joint infection

Question 7

Investigating bursitis

Answer 7

diagnose clinically:
- localised pain and tenderness over burse
- swelling if superficial

Question 8

Management of non-septic bursitis

Answer 8

1st line:
- conservative & analgesia (paracetamol, topical NSAIDs)

2nd line:
- steroid injection (methylprednisolone acetate)

3rd line:
- surgery (very rarely done)