Bursitis

What is a bursa and what is Bursitis ?

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A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that cushions an area of friction between tissues, such as tendon and bone. Bursae are lined with synovial cells, which secrete a synovial fluid.This synovial fluid acts as a lubricant when parts of the body move.  Most people have about 160 bursae throughout the body. Common locations are: around the joints of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and adjacent to the Achilles tendon in the heel.

Inflammation of a bursa is called bursitis.

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What are the causes of bursitis? 

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Common causes of bursitis are -

• Repetitive trauma (most common cause)

• Infection

• Secondary to rheumatological diseases.

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What are the commonly seen bursitis ?

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Subacromial bursitis

Trochenteric bursitis

Prepatellar bursitis

Pes anserine bursitis

Retrocalcaneal bursitis

Baker’s Cyst

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What are the less common types of bursitis? 

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Olecranon bursitis, Iliopectineate bursitis, Psoas bursitis, Ischiogluteal bursitis, Gluteus medius bursitis, infra-patellar bursitis, Retroachillis bursitis etc are less common.

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What are the treatments for bursitis?

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• P: protection

• R: rest

• I:  Ice

• C: compression

• E: Elevation

• M: medicine

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What are the treatments for bursitis when not responding to medicines, exercise? 

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• Intervention: Injection of steroid / PRP/ Prolotherapy 

• Surgery

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What are the advantage of Injection treatment for bursitis?

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These are procedures suited for office based practice/daycare procedure

Extremely low incidence of complication

Diagnostic value

Relatively inexpensive.

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