A bursa is a sac containing a small amount of synovial fluid that lies between a tendon and either skin or bone to act as a friction buffer. There are >150 bursae in the body and these can be deep (e.g., the subacromial bursa) or superficial (e.g., the olecranon bursa).

In primary care, bursitis most commonly presents in the knee, subacromial (subdeltoid), trochanteric, retrocalcaneal, and olecranon bursae.

Pathophysiology:

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. This causes thickening of the synovial membrane and increased fluid production, causing swelling. This inflammation can be caused by a number of things:

• Friction from repetitive movements
• leaning on the elbow (olecranon bursitis)
• Trauma
• Inflammatory conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis or gout)
• Infection – referred to as septic bursitis

PC

• Pain at site of bursa
• Tenderness to palpation
• Decreased AROM
• Swelling and flactuant - prominant if superificial bursa
• If accompanied by septic bursitis - low grade temp, warmth, erythema

Investigations

None usually required - A clinical diagnosis