Inflammatory processes actively developing in the olecranon process are called by one term “elbow bursitis”. Any, even the most minor damage, can trigger the development of a similar disease that requires long-term treatment. The lump, which subsequently develops, hurts for a long time and can make a person’s life unbearable. It is necessary to know what factors influence the development of the problem and what methods can be used to get rid of the disease before it becomes chronic, as well as what to do if the pathology has already begun to progress.
Elbow bursitis is an inflammatory process that can occur due to excessive stress, injury or infection.
Bursa is a membrane formed from connective tissue that protects the joint from premature wear and nourishes cartilage, with synovial fluid in the internal cavity. The nature of the pathology depends primarily on the composition of the fluid contained in the bag. The problem manifests itself in the formation of swelling and redness in the bursa area. This area causes pain, which can cause an increase in a person’s body temperature.
The causes of bursitis may include the following factors:
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Depending on the nature of the course, the disease is divided into the following types:
Only a specialist can accurately determine the form of the disease after undergoing an examination and tests.
Bursitis of the elbow joint is classified according to the degree of damage, localization, and provocateur of the disease.
In addition, experts classify pathology into the following types:
For some time the disease does not manifest itself in any way, but then clear signs of bursitis appear:
If traumatic elbow bursitis is not treated, the problem can develop into a chronic form with the acquisition of the following complications:
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Diagnosing post-traumatic olecranon bursitis is not difficult. An orthopedic doctor examines a patient for the presence of a serous, hemorrhagic or purulent disease. To achieve this, the following activities are carried out:
Treatment of bursitis is carried out after passing all the necessary tests, when the doctor can say with confidence what exactly led to the development of the pathology. The pathology is treated comprehensively. To stop inflammation of the joint capsule of the elbow joint, it is necessary to fulfill all the requirements of a specialist: take the necessary medications, be treated using physiotherapy, and in severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to eliminate the symptoms of pathology. To eliminate acute bursitis of the elbow joint, the patient is given a tight bandage and plaster and is provided with complete rest. If your joints hurt, it is recommended to use the following proven ointments:
In extreme cases, when there is doubt about the treatment plan, patients undergo synovial punctures.
When pus begins to ooze from the hole (the so-called fistula), therapy takes place in the hospital under the supervision of specialists. A course of antibiotics and antispasmodics is prescribed. In severe forms of the disease and if the pain remains, the bursa is drained and opened. Inflammation of the elbow joint provokes complications that are extremely unpredictable and dangerous, so you should not leave the first symptoms to chance, since in severe cases, elbow bursitis can cost a person his life.
It is highly not recommended to treat hemorrhagic joint bursitis on your own and without consulting a specialist, since alternative medicine does not replace traditional therapy. Such methods can relieve pain, but do not solve the problem. Among the most effective remedies in combating symptoms are the following recipes:
In cases where drug treatment of elbow bursitis does not eliminate all manifestations of the problem, surgical removal is the key treatment option available. Characteristic indications for surgery are the presence of hemorrhagic, serous or recurrent development of the disease. Doctors are gradually moving away from using a method such as bunionectomy, in which a serious traumatic intervention is performed and the mobility of the limb is limited for a long period of time. A more gentle method is to inject around the area of inflammation with a special preparation and aspirate the liquid using a thick needle. After the operation, a bandage is applied to the elbow joint; large-scale excision is not performed, thereby healing occurs much faster.
A specialist physical therapist also treats bursitis using specific techniques. Such procedures must be prescribed during a period of stable remission with the permission of the attending physician. To relieve swelling and eliminate pain use:
If the elbow joint is injured, it is recommended to immediately apply cold to avoid the risk of developing such a pathology.
The main methods of treating the ulnar bursa include drug anti-inflammatory therapy, the use of traditional recipes and surgery. As alternative auxiliary agents, you can use drugs whose action is aimed at strengthening the body's protective properties. To eliminate bursitis of the elbow joint, a complex of drugs is prescribed, which includes an immunostimulant and vitamins.
The consequences of bursitis of the elbow joint are dangerous due to numerous complications, among which the most dangerous is an abscess. To prevent the disease, you need to adhere to the following recommendations: avoid injuries to moving joints, promptly receive treatment for bruises and cuts. Prevention includes the timely elimination of inflammatory diseases in the body, providing protection to the elbow joint if the work involves permanent injury to the area.
The elbow joint is a movable joint of three bones - the radius, ulna and humerus. This connection is formed due to the hyaline coating on the articular surfaces of the bones, the ligamentous apparatus and the synovial bursa (bursa) in which the joint is enclosed.
This formation of the joint ensures its mobility, and also practically eliminates friction due to the hyaline coating and lubrication in the lumen of the joint.
Diseases that may require surgery are divided into three types, depending on the cause: infectious, inflammatory, traumatic.
Infectious diseases include bursitis and infectious arthritis. These diseases lead to the development of pain, dysfunction of the joint, as well as the accumulation of exudate (effusion) or pus (as a waste product of bacteria).
Arthritis of the elbow joint
Inflammatory ones include non-infectious arthritis and arthrosis, which are most often a consequence of age-related changes. The main problem of these diseases is either the destruction of the hyaline surface of the bones of the elbow joint, or the ossification of this very surface. In such cases, the range of motion is greatly reduced.
Traumatic injuries include fractures and ligamentous injuries. Fractures of the elbow joint most often occur comminuted and displaced, which makes their treatment difficult. Among the injuries of the ligamentous apparatus, the most dangerous are ligament ruptures, which occur during dislocations and fracture-dislocations.
Below we consider the most common interventions on the elbow joint.
Elbow fracture
This operation is performed for fractures and fracture-dislocations when closed reduction is impossible. Its goal is to restore the location of bone fragments and fix them for further healing of the fracture. Bone fragments can be fixed using knitting needles or screws. This fixation is called osteosynthesis. The duration of such an operation can vary from several to 12-14 hours. This depends on the nature of the fracture, the number of fragments and associated injuries. Often such operations require simultaneous suturing of the ligaments and arthroplasty.
This operation requires high precision, since correctly applied sutures to the ligaments ensure minimal consequences after the operation. Even the smallest and most insignificant ligament is important for the normal functioning of the joint. Today, after such operations, the function of the limb is restored by 99%, even if a traumatic amputation occurred and the arm was actually reattached (these operations are performed within 1 hour after the injury; the severed limb must be placed in an ice pack, and an arterial tourniquet applied to the shoulder) .
This operation is performed to eliminate defects on the hyaline articular surface. For this purpose, special mixtures and pastes are used that fill the gaps of defects and harden. Such mixtures, after hardening, have high strength and wear resistance. Today, there are also special plates that cover the surface of the joint. They completely fit it and follow its shape. Such plates can be made of medical alloys or polymers. Arthroplasty is also performed by excision of ossified areas of cartilage tissue.
Endoprosthetics of the elbow joint
This intervention is carried out to replace the joint with a specially made implant. Either the articular head of one of the bones or the joint as a whole can be replaced with prosthetics. This is necessary in cases of bone fragmentation, violations of physiological osteosynthesis, purulent bone melting in osteomyelitis. Just like plates on the cartilaginous surfaces of joints, endoprostheses are made of alloys and polymers (medical titanium is most often used).
Puncture of the elbow joint
This is a minor intervention designed to determine the presence and nature of exudate in bursitis, arthrosis, as well as for direct administration of drugs into the joint capsule. This administration of drugs provides a stronger and faster effect compared to other parenteral methods of administration. This manipulation is carried out by puncturing the soft tissue with a puncture needle and inserting it into the lumen of the joint. Almost always performed under local anesthesia.
This is an instrumental method for diagnosing and performing joint operations. Today, the majority of operations are performed using endoscopic equipment (arthroplasty, suturing of ligaments, repositioning of fragments in minor fractures, such as a fracture of the olecranon). This method is less invasive (traumatic) than open surgery.
Arthroscopy of the elbow joint
Most operations are performed under general (inhalation endotracheal) anesthesia. This allows the use of muscle relaxants (drugs to relax the muscles) to facilitate access to the joint. Puncture and arthroscopic arthroplasty can be performed using conduction anesthesia.
The most common complications are arthritis and hemarthrosis.
Advice: any operation is accompanied by trauma to the tissues that are located near the surgical space. Therefore, we can say that any operation should have consequences in the first days. Such consequences during operations on the elbow joint are arthritis and hamarthrosis. So, when they develop, you should not worry and condemn doctors for incompetence.
One of the serious consequences associated with improper operation is a decrease or impairment of joint function. This problem sometimes requires repeated intervention to take measures to eliminate the cause.
A competent course of exercise therapy allows you to gradually, without the risk of complications, return to your usual activities and lifestyle
The main components of rehabilitation are: the use of physiotherapeutic agents, physical therapy, massages. A properly constructed recovery plan is no less important for restoring limb function than successful intervention and treatment. Rehabilitation after open surgery and rehabilitation after arthroscopy are practically the same. Massage and physiotherapy improve blood supply and lymph drainage in injured tissues.
Advice: always follow the rehabilitation plan prescribed by your rehabilitation doctor. Deviations can lead to inadequate load on the injured joint and to the development of new injuries and complications.
Surgeries on the elbow joint require coordinated work between the doctor, the patient and the rehabilitation specialist. Only the joint work of all three can lead to complete success. Everyone depends on their own: on the doctor - the competence of carrying out the operation, on the rehabilitation specialist - the selection of the correct plan and mode of recovery, and on the patient - the fulfillment of all requirements.
The elbow joint is surrounded by three bursae: the ulnar saphenous, interosseous and radiobrachial. Synovial fluid protects rubbing bones from damage.
With bursitis, the composition of the fluid changes, the bursa overflows and stretches the soft tissue. Depending on the causes, nature, volume and functions performed by the synovial fluid, symptoms and treatment of bursitis of the elbow joint are determined.
Bursitis is classified according to duration:
Depending on what inflammatory and pathological processes develop in the synovial bursa of the elbow, bursitis is classified according to the type:
The video in this article shows an operation for purulent bursitis of the elbow:
Inflammatory pathology is also distinguished according to two more classifications:
The main reasons for the development of pathology are as follows:
Bursitis can develop against the background of psoriatic, rheumatoid or gouty arthritis, due to microtrauma resulting from constant support of the elbow on a hard surface during work. An old mechanical injury or a fall on the elbow can also cause inflammation of the elbow joint. If the skin is damaged and infection (bacteria) penetrates into the bursa, purulent inflammation develops.
The infection can spread through the bloodstream and lymph within the body from another infected organ. Weakened immunity, metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus, and even treatment with steroid drugs can lead to inflammation in the elbow; for an unknown reason, symptoms of idiopathic bursitis may occur.
If local inflammation develops, then it will manifest itself with the following symptoms:
A slight swelling gradually turns into a hemispherical or rounded dense and elastic formation, the size of which can reach 10 cm or more. Pain and symptoms of intoxication of the body appear: body temperature rises, weakness and malaise, nausea and vomiting bother. Before treating bursitis of the elbow joint, you need to undergo diagnostics, including a differential check, to identify the nature of the causative agent of the pathology.
To confirm bursitis and/or concomitant diseases (for example, arthritis), the doctor prescribes an x-ray and puncture. Accurate confirmation of the etiology of the disease is confirmed by a general and biochemical blood test.
The size and localization of inflammation in the bags and the amount of exudate in them can be learned from an ultrasound examination of the joint. Deep inflammation can be diagnosed using MRI results.
Before treating chronic elbow bursitis, it is necessary to perform a puncture to remove exudate. If inflammation due to injury occurs, antibiotics and hormonal agents, such as Hydrocortisone, should be injected into the bursa.
Treatment of bursitis of the elbow joint should be comprehensive and include surgical, medicinal, physiotherapeutic, alternative and folk methods.
Important! In order not to further aggravate the inflammation, it is necessary to unload the joint as much as possible and reduce its work with a tight bandage without interfering with blood circulation, put on a bandage or orthosis, and support the arm with a scarf or special belts.
The price for elbow bandages is from 200-150 rubles, for orthoses - from 500-900 rubles. If bursitis is associated with an extensive closed injury, then immobilization of the limb is carried out with a plaster cast or splint.
If chronic, acute and purulent bursitis of the elbow joint is detected, treatment involves opening the inflamed area. Bursectomy is used: excision of the ulnar bursa and then drainage. A special tube is inserted to remove all purulent exudate, rinse and administer antibacterial drugs and corticosteroids for inflammation.
Constant relapses lead to thickening of the walls of the bursa, the formation of folds and an increase in its volume. Conservative treatment does not always give the expected effect, so the bag is cut and excised using general or local anesthesia.
To ensure rest and speedy healing of the wound, a splint is applied for 5-7 days or more. During this time, connective tissue grows, forming a new joint capsule. Next, orthoses or bandages are used.
If it is possible not to operate, then the purulent contents are removed and the cavity of the bursa is washed during the puncture.
After a course of non-steroidal drugs for inflammation (Ibuprofen, Ketorolac), pain and temperature in the inflammatory epicenter decrease.
It is important to know. To reduce the negative impact of non-steroidal drugs on the gastrointestinal mucosa, you should simultaneously take drugs of the proton inhibitor group: Nexium, Esomeprazole, Omez and others.
If there is a purulent-infectious process in the bursa, broad-spectrum antibiotics are taken. The doctor prescribes an antibiogram, based on the results of which he individually selects the necessary medicine. In advanced cases, corticosteroids are injected into the joint. After removing the purulent exudate, Kenalog, the most popular steroid hormone for relieving inflammation, is injected into the bursa.
Attention! You cannot prescribe antibiotic prophylaxis for non-infectious bursitis on your own! It will not bring any benefit, but will only develop the bacteria’s addiction to the drug.
If there are no wounds or scratches on the elbow joint and it is free from plaster or bandages, then the problem area is lubricated with anti-inflammatory gels and ointments such as Nise, Diclofenac, Voltaren or Ibuprofen. Strengthen the body with vitamins, calcium preparations, and immunostimulants.
In the post-acute period, in order to eliminate inflammation and improve metabolic processes in the elbow joint, physiotherapy is prescribed:
Physiotherapy procedures include treatment of elbow bursitis with folk remedies and/or natural remedies at home, such as bischofite or stone oil.
Rock oil consists of aluminum alum with magnesium sulfate and water-soluble salts. It is collected from the surface of rocks. But it should not be confused with mumiyo, since oil is a mineral product, and mumiyo is an organomineral product.
These two rock substances have different compositions. Stone oil boosts immunity and kills bacteria. It is sold in its pure form or mixed with cedar or fir resin, sea buckthorn, extracts from medicinal herbs: nettle, sea buckthorn, mint, St. John's wort, as well as chaga, beaver stream and other medicinal substances.
Bischofite in the form of natural brine is extracted by drilling wells. It is saturated with bromine, iodine, chloride-magnesium-sodium complex, iron and other elements beneficial to health. Bishofite warms and has a moderate anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, restores elbow mobility.
After removing excess exudate from the synovial bursa and in the absence of concomitant arthritis, treatment of elbow bursitis at home can be supplemented with bischofite and stone oil.
Instructions for treatment procedures are given in the table:
Course – 12 procedures.
Break – 1-1.5 months.
The solution can be replaced with ready-made bischofite gel.
Bishofite can be replaced with sea salt (200 g)
Elbow baths: add a liquid solution of bischofite (250 ml) to warm water up to 40°C (1 l). Keep the elbow in the bath for up to half an hour.
In the recovery (post-acute) period after surgery or a course of medications, they begin to develop the elbow through physical therapy. At first, minimal loads are applied: they are retracted in different directions and the forearm is adducted.
Next, use small weights for weights. The video shows a warm-up for the elbows:
In physiotherapy and physical therapy departments of medical centers, passive development of the elbow joints is carried out on the FISIOTEK HP robotic simulator.
Kinesiotherapy and Bubnovsky's ground gymnastics are an alternative to traditional medicinal treatment methods and classical exercise therapy for elbow injuries, ligament damage and bursitis. The elbow joint is developed using universal simulators in the post-acute and/or rehabilitation period after surgery.
When diagnosed with “bursitis of the elbow joint,” treatment with folk remedies becomes an important part of therapy, both when prescribing surgery, and when performing a puncture and using medications. Herbal treatment is recognized by official medicine and can relieve surgery and pain if you start using ointments and compresses, baths and applications in time.
Large leaves are washed thoroughly and placed in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, scald with boiling water or press much with a spoon until juice appears or crushed. Apply to the inflamed elbow and secure with cellophane and a scarf. Change the application 3-4 times a day, more often for purulent bursitis.
Pure flowers are crushed until the juice appears and applied on linen cloth to the elbow for 2 hours, then replaced with a “fresh” bandage.
For acute bursitis: mix aloe juice (1 tbsp) and honey (2 tbsp). Distribute the composition over gauze (bandage) folded in several layers. Apply to the elbow and secure with cellophane and woolen cloth. Leave for 2 hours.
For purulent bursitis: mix alcohol (2 tbsp.) with pharmaceutical ox bile (1 bottle), ground horse chestnut fruits (2 tbsp.), crushed aloe leaves (3 pcs.). Leave for 10-12 days. Then the linen cloth is moistened and applied to the problem area, covered with film and secured with a woolen scarf. Course – 10 procedures overnight, break – 10 days.
Infuse propolis (15 g) in vodka or alcohol (100 ml) for 7 days. Apply lotions until the expected effect is obtained.
Cones and branches of pine needles (1.5 kg) are placed in a bucket of water, boiled for half an hour and left for 1.5 hours. Separate the water from the grounds and add 1-2 liters to the bath, 0.5-1 liters to the elbow bath.
Conclusion. Traditional medicine in a comprehensive program is used to strengthen the immune system, reduce swelling and inflammation, eliminate pain, and prevent complications. In this case, hypothermia of the elbow joint should not be allowed, and the load should be increased gradually.
After surgery and in order to prevent bursitis, wearing orthoses or bandages on the elbow joint of various designs and types is prescribed.
Prevention of elbow bursitis also includes:
The threat of injury should be eliminated and traumatic effects on the elbow at work and during sports training should be prevented.
The consequences of elbow bursitis take longer and are more difficult to treat.
Bursitis or inflammation of the synovial bursa of the elbow joint should be treated with conservative and traditional medicine methods in the early stages and surgical intervention in the later stages of advanced pathology.
Bursitis of the elbow joint is an aseptic or infectious inflammatory process in the synovial bursa. It can occur acutely, subacutely or chronically. The cause of development is microtrauma, increased load, certain diseases, as well as closed and open injuries to the bursa area. A soft local compaction appears in the area of the elbow joint. In the acute period, pain and signs of local inflammation occur. Chronic bursitis is characterized by mild to moderate pain and difficulty moving in the absence of inflammation. With suppuration, swelling, sharp pain and signs of general intoxication appear. The diagnosis is made based on clinical signs; if necessary, puncture, MRI and radiography are performed. Treatment of acute bursitis is conservative, chronic and purulent - surgical.
Elbow bursitis is the most common type of bursitis. It can be aseptic or purulent, acute or chronic. More often it develops as a result of overload and microtrauma of the elbow joint. It is observed in athletes and people with heavy physical labor (miners), as well as in workers who are forced to often lean their elbows on the table. It mainly affects young and middle-aged patients, men are affected more often than women. Traumatologists treat chronic aseptic bursitis, and surgeons treat acute aseptic bursitis and purulent bursitis.
A bursa is a slit-like formation containing a small amount of fluid and located near protruding areas of the bone. Acts as a shock absorber, protecting surrounding tissues from excessive pressure or friction. When overload or repeated microtrauma occurs in the bursa, aseptic inflammation occurs, and the inner lining of the bursa begins to actively produce fluid. As a result, the bag takes on the appearance of a tightly filled pouch and begins to bulge. Subsequently, the liquid gradually stretches the bag, it increases and can reach significant sizes. Over a long period of time, adhesions with surrounding tissues form, foci of fibrosis and sometimes areas of calcification appear in the capsule. When an infection occurs in the bursa, purulent inflammation develops, which can spread to neighboring organs and tissues.
In the area of the elbow joint there are three bursae: the ulnar saphenous, the interosseous ulnar and the radiobrachial. Most often (in approximately 70-80% of cases), the subcutaneous bursa, which is located along the posterior surface of the joint in the area of the olecranon, is affected.
The cause of chronic bursitis is constant microtrauma due to increased load or body position. The localization of inflammation in a particular bag is determined by the characteristics of the load. Thus, in wrestlers, miners and office workers, the subcutaneous ulnar bursa is more often affected, in tennis players - the radioulnar bursa, etc. With rheumatoid arthritis, gout and some other diseases, bursitis develops as a reaction to the deposition of salts in the synovial bursa.
Infection is possible when microbes are introduced through a small wound, abrasion, abscess or boil in the elbow area. With erysipelas, boils, carbuncles, bedsores, osteomyelitis and purulent wounds, the infection can enter the bursa through the blood or lymph flow. Risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing purulent bursitis are general weakening of the body as a result of previous diseases, metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus, immune disorders and taking steroid drugs.
There are the following classifications of bursitis of the elbow joint:
In acute serous or serous-hemorrhagic bursitis, swelling appears in the area of the elbow joint and mild or moderate pain occurs. There is local swelling, limitation of movements, local hyperemia and increased skin temperature in the affected area. The general condition of the patient, as a rule, deteriorates slightly. Possible malaise and low-grade fever. On palpation in the area of the elbow joint, a limited, painful, fluctuating formation of elastic-elastic consistency is determined. Subsequently, two outcomes are possible: recovery (inflammation subsides, excess fluid is absorbed) or the transition of acute bursitis to chronic.
Chronic bursitis of the elbow joint can either become the outcome of an acute process or develop primarily, without previous acute inflammation. In the first case, the inflammatory phenomena gradually subside, the skin acquires a normal color (in some cases, slight cyanosis or local darkening of the skin is possible), the temperature returns to normal. The pain decreases, however, it continues to bother me during physical activity, contact with surfaces, etc. A slight limitation in range of motion remains. Palpation reveals a painless fluctuating formation. The consistency of the formation can vary significantly - from elastic, tight-elastic to soft and even flabby. With old bursitis, compactions (“rice bodies”) can be detected.
With wounds in the area of the elbow joint, suppuration of the bursa can develop primarily, without previous bursitis. In other cases, a purulent process usually occurs against the background of pre-existing acute or chronic bursitis. Intense tugging or bursting pain appears in the affected area. The elbow joint is swollen, hyperemic, sharply painful on palpation, hot to the touch. Movements are limited. Regional lymph nodes are enlarged. Symptoms of general intoxication are revealed: fever, headache, weakness, weakness. When the process spreads, the formation of fistulas, the development of an abscess, phlegmon, osteomyelitis or purulent arthritis is possible.
When the subcutaneous bursa is affected, making a diagnosis is not difficult. Suspicion of nonspecific and specific infected bursitis is an indication for puncture of the bursa followed by examination of the punctate. In purulent processes, the sensitivity of the isolated infectious agents to antibiotics is determined. For specific inflammation, special serological and bacteriological studies are performed. Involvements of the radioulnar and interosseous bursae are sometimes more difficult to diagnose due to their deep location. In doubtful cases, an MRI of the joints is performed. If specific bursitis is suspected, the patient is referred for consultation to a venereologist or phthisiatrician. If gout and rheumatoid arthritis are suspected, a consultation with a rheumatologist is prescribed.
Treatment of acute bursitis is carried out on an outpatient basis in a surgical office. A tight bandage is applied to the elbow joint, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, it is recommended to keep rest and apply cold to the affected area. In some cases, a puncture of the synovial bursa is performed. For purulent bursitis, treatment is carried out in a clinic or in a surgical hospital, depending on the severity of the process. The patient is prescribed antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and painkillers. A therapeutic puncture of the bursa is performed, followed by lavage and administration of antibiotics. In severe cases, the synovial bursa is opened and drained.
Traumatologists treat chronic aseptic bursitis. Conservative therapy in such cases is ineffective. Punctures also do not bring the desired result, since after removal the fluid accumulates again. The best result is provided by surgical excision of the bursa. The operation is carried out as planned in a trauma department. Local anesthesia is used.
The doctor makes an arcuate incision along the edge of the bursa and injects novocaine into the tissue for better visibility of the border between the bursa and surrounding tissues. Then he bluntly (with a clamp) peels off the bag along its entire length and excises it, making sure that there are no pieces of the capsule left in the wound cavity. Then he sutures the skin and drains the wound with one or two rubber graduates. When excising large bursae, a rubber half-tube can be used. The arm is bent at the elbow joint and bandaged tightly to prevent the formation of a cavity and to ensure skin contact with the underlying tissues. In the postoperative period, UHF is prescribed. The sutures are removed on the tenth day, after which the patient is discharged for outpatient follow-up treatment at the emergency room.
With timely treatment, the prognosis for all types of bursitis is favorable. With purulent bursitis with the spread of infection to surrounding tissues (especially into the joint cavity), the prognosis worsens. The outcome in such cases can be contractures and joint stiffness.
Bursitis is a disease in which inflammation of the mucous membrane of the joint, called synovial, occurs. If the disease occurs in a mild form, then the patient practically does not pay attention to it and it goes away on its own within 7-10 days. If bursitis is severe, then therapy cannot be avoided. The elbow joint very often suffers from this disease, second only to the hip joint. This is due to the fact that the elbows are subject to significant stress and are often injured. If treatment for the disease is not started in a timely manner and it does not go away on its own, over time the patient may develop such severe damage to the joint that he or she will be unable to work. Ideally, at the first signs of elbow bursitis, you should seek medical help or begin home treatment using folk remedies that have proven to be very effective. When used correctly, traditional medicines can completely replace drug therapy and eliminate the disease completely.
There are many reasons for the onset of the inflammatory process, and that is why the disease occurs very often and in all age categories. The main provocateurs of the disease are:
Whatever the cause of the disease, the fight against it should begin from the moment its first symptoms were noticed. Even if they are very minor and do not interfere with normal life, ignoring them is dangerous.
Today, doctors distinguish 3 types of bursitis of the elbow joint. Usually, each of them has its own distinctive manifestations, and therefore making a correct diagnosis is not difficult.
Traditional medicine can be used for any type of disease, but only if there is no purulent process in the affected joint. With it, treatment takes place only under the strict supervision of a doctor.
Most often, when an illness occurs, patients complain of the following symptoms:
In the vast majority of cases, bursitis of the elbow joint begins as a non-purulent inflammatory process, which, in the absence of treatment, becomes purulent. In addition to suppuration, refusal of treatment is also dangerous because the disease can become chronic or recurrent.
Traditional treatment should be used as soon as the first symptoms of bursitis appear. In the event that the disease is already very advanced, home remedies can only be used as an aid and in consultation with the attending physician. If he does not allow their use, then you must refrain from self-medication.
The synovial bursa of the elbow joints is located close to the surface of the skin, and therefore it is very easy to damage it. Prevention rules make it possible to prevent the development of bursitis with great effectiveness, and you should not forget about them. As the main preventive measures for the disease, doctors identify:
All these simple steps help keep your joints healthy. Prevention of elbow bursitis is much simpler than its treatment, and therefore should not be neglected. If symptoms of the disease still appear, urgent treatment is necessary.
Bursitis of the elbow joint is a chronic inflammatory process consisting of damage to the synovial (integumentary) membrane of the joint and a change in the biochemical composition of the fluid produced by it. Unlike many other traumatological pathologies, which develop primarily against the background of mechanical irritations, bursitis is largely represented by the colonization of pathogenic microflora. Anatomical features of the structure of the elbow joint , namely the presence of pockets ideal for the accumulation of bacteria, are the initiating factor in the development of bursitis.
It should be especially emphasized that it is bursitis of the elbow joint that often serves as a trigger for the appearance of other, more severe inflammatory processes. We are talking about arthritis and arthrosis . The root cause lies in local inflammation, which quickly leads to a change in the composition of the synovial fluid that nourishes the cartilage of the joint and many other anatomical formations. As a result of a violation of the trophic function, arthritis quickly develops, going through all stages of development from mild to severe. Even with successful treatment of elbow bursitis, the advanced inflammatory process and normalization of synovial fluid no longer gives the desired effect and does not cure the patient, which requires another, more systematic approach.
Bursitis of the elbow joint is considered a polyetiological disease, which is caused by either one provoking factor or their combination, aggravating the course of the disease.
The resulting microtraumas are a strong provoking factor in the development of both bursitis and arthritis. Moreover, the latter can noticeably aggravate each other, making the patient’s suffering unbearable and requiring immediate treatment.
Bursitis of the elbow joint also develops against the background of colonization of the free spaces of the bursa by pathogenic microflora; We are talking about staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli, etc. Treatment of bursitis of the elbow joint, of bacterial origin, if confirmed by laboratory diagnostics, proceeds much more favorably in the absence of complications and timely seeking medical help.
It is reasonable to ask why do bacteria cause disease? How do they enter the body? To infect the joint capsule, it is enough for them to circulate in the blood, for example, with a common cold. A powerful provoking factor can be bursitis of another origin, for example, caused in the past by microtraumas, as well as a decrease in general immunity. In general, there are many reasons for such bacterial aggression, so the priority is not so much to try to identify and eliminate the outbreak, but to prescribe pathogenetic therapy.
The clinical manifestations of elbow bursitis are varied. When arthritis is added, the symptoms change somewhat, which makes diagnosis difficult. If we are talking about isolated bursitis, then pain appears only when the joint moves, and the temperature often rises. As a rule, movements in the joint are anatomically preserved, but physiologically limited due to the presence of pain. If bursitis lasts several days, tissue swelling occurs. In any case, it is of fundamental importance to begin treatment of elbow bursitis as soon as possible, which not only increases the likelihood of a quick cure, but also prevents the development of complications that create enormous discomfort and other other difficulties for both the patient and the doctor.
Bursitis of the elbow joint, the treatment of which requires the use of complex therapeutic procedures and medications, and in severe forms, surgical intervention, is cured in the shortest possible time with full compliance with the treatment method.
First of all, you need to provide a gentle regime for the injured limb. Sometimes a fixing bandage is applied.
Broad-spectrum drugs that affect many types of bacteria can be prescribed before the specific causative agent of the disease is identified.
Usually a gentle regimen, a course of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics are prescribed.
For bursitis after injury, rest, ice, compresses, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
Treatment of bursitis of the elbow joint with ointment allows you to accelerate the regeneration processes of the tissues of the synovial bursa, relieve inflammation and pain.
During the acute period of the disease, apply a tight bandage. This measure reduces swelling, prevents the development of the disease and reduces pain, eliminating flexion of the damaged joint.
Significantly speeds up the healing process of physiotherapy . After complete elimination of infectious inflammation, the following rehabilitation measures are used:
For elbow bursitis, surgical treatment methods are also possible, but they are used only in extreme cases, when other methods do not produce results or in case of infection of the synovial bursa, as well as if the disease becomes chronic and is accompanied by frequent exacerbations.
It is technically possible, in the absence of any pain, to carry out a surgical correction that effectively helps the patient get rid of the disease.
In some cases, the wall of the synovial bursa may be removed, as well as partial excision of the synovial bursa. The synovial bursa is also opened and tamponed.
In extreme cases, the synovial bursa is completely removed without opening.
I would like to express my gratitude to the entire team of the New Step center for the warm welcome and attention paid to me. Very friendly administrators Yana and Natalya! Special thanks to Ivan Vladimirovich, Artem and Rufat for their desire to help their son restore the function of his hand!
I would like to thank the massage therapist Olga for the excellent work. After her massage I want to fly! Thank you! Good luck in your hard work. Sosnovsky I.N.
Many thanks to the sports center and staff! Doctor Temir Evgenievich and also the nurses for their attention to me. Thanks for your work!
I express my gratitude to Artem Andreevich for an excellent massage. He is a real “pro” in his field!