Olecranon Bursitis

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The olecranon bursa sits directly over the tip of the elbow. It can become inflamed from repetitive pressure (resting the elbow on a hard surface), direct trauma, gout, pseudogout, rheumatoid arthritis, or infection (septic bursitis). It presents as a visible, fluctuant swelling over the olecranon — often painless unless infected or inflamed. Septic olecranon bursitis is a distinct condition requiring antibiotic treatment.

Visible soft swelling at the tip of the elbow. Elbow range of motion is usually preserved since the bursa is external to the joint. Aspiration with fluid cell count, crystal analysis, and culture distinguishes septic from non-septic bursitis. Gout crystals (urate) confirm crystalline bursitis.

1. Corticosteroid injection

   After aspiration for non-septic, non-crystalline cases.

2. Antibiotics

   For septic bursitis — IV or oral depending on severity and organism.

Septic bursitis unresponsive to antibiotics and aspiration, or chronic recurrent bursitis despite multiple aspirations and injections, is treated with surgical bursectomy.

External patient-education references and related OSI pages for additional background:

• Britannica — Bursitis
• Britannica — Joint (anatomy)
• AAOS OrthoInfo — patient education library
• OSI glossary — orthopedic terminology in plain language