Bursitis: Understanding Inflammation of the Bursa
Article by Johnathon Cluett | Found on VeryWell
Every person has hundreds of bursa found throughout the body. The normal function of a bursa is to decrease friction between two surfaces that move in different directions. The bursa is a slippery, fluid-filled sac. Normally, the bursa is thin and contains a small amount of fluid.
A bursa is found where there is a movement of a joint causing two tissues to rub against each other.
For example, behind the elbow or in front of the knee, there is a bursa to allow the skin to move without rubbing against the bone. These movements should be smooth and effortless.
What Is Bursitis?
Under normal circumstances, the bursa provides a slippery surface that has very little friction with movement. Bursitis means that the bursa has become inflamed. The bursa loses its gliding capabilities and becomes more and more irritated when it is moved.
When the condition called bursitis occurs, the normally slippery bursa becomes thickened and swollen. The added bulk of the swollen bursa causes more friction within an already limited space. Also, the smooth gliding bursa becomes gritty and rough. Movement of an inflamed bursa is painful and irritating.
Signs of Bursitis
Bursitis typically results from a repetitive overuse injury or due to prolonged pressure applied directly to the bursa. The next most common cause of bursitis is an acute injury, such as a contusion.
Systemic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout, may also lead to bursitis. The last major cause of bursitis is an infection. An infected bursitis, also called septic bursitis, occurs when there is infection within the bursa. There is usually a break in the skin over the bursa that causes the infection, but there can also be infection spread to the bursa from within the body.
The most common method to diagnose bursitis is based on examination of a patient. The findings consistent with bursitis include:
- Tenderness directly over the bursa. An inflamed bursa is usually tender to the touch. Even a bursa deep inside the body may have pain when pressure is applied to the area. Sometimes your examiner will manipulate the area around the bursa to compress the bursa sac to detect tenderness of the area.
- Pain with movement of overlying muscles and tendons. When a bursa is inflamed, normal movements of the soft-tissues surrounding the bursa may become painful. Sometimes a grinding sensation called crepitus can be felt when these normally smooth movements become rough.
- Swelling of the bursa. When the bursa is located in a superficial location (such as above the kneecap or behind the elbow), the swelling of the bursa may be seen or felt.
If there is a suspicion of infection, your doctor may obtain some of the fluid from the swollen bursa for microscopic analysis. The fluid can usually be suctioned from the bursa with a small needle and a syringe.
Imaging tests such as x-rays and MRIs are not usually needed to make the diagnosis of bursitis but may be performed to ensure there is no other problem, such as a fracture, that could be causing the symptoms of pain and swelling.
If you have any sign of infection associated with bursitis you should alert your doctor immediately.These signs of infection include:
- Open wounds around the area of bursitis
- Redness of increasing warmth the skin
- Systemic signs of infection such as fevers, chills, and sweats
Treatment of Bursitis
Treatment of bursitis depends on the specific type of bursitis, but the general focus is to rest the bursa, decrease inflammation, and allow time for recovery. Most all cases of bursitis will recover with non-invasive treatments. While there are some situations where bursitis may take months to resolve, there will typically be a gradual improvement in symptoms.
When the bursitis is persistent despite appropriate treatment, surgical excision of the bursa is an option. In people diagnosed with an infection of the bursa, a septic bursitis, there will also need to be appropriate antibiotic treatment.
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New Mexico Orthopaedics offers a full spectrum of services related to orthopedic care and our expertise ranges from acute conditions such as sports injuries and fractures to prolonged, chronic care diagnoses, including total joint replacement and spinal disorders.
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