Introduction
Inflammation of the elbow is a disease that is widespread in the population. It is one of the most common reasons for a visit to the orthopedic surgery. Various causes can be responsible for an inflammatory process at the elbow.
Symptoms
Inflammation of the elbow usually causes a number of typical symptoms, which can of course vary in severity depending on the cause. However, there is always pain above the joint. It can occur at rest, but usually intensifies with movement.
Furthermore, the affected part of the elbow can be swollen, overheated and pressure-sensitive. These are typical signs of inflammation. The pain and swelling can lead to reduced mobility. If these symptoms are very pronounced, tasks that require the inflamed elbow cannot be performed or can only be performed with difficulty.
Causes
Possible causes for inflammation of the elbow:
- Arthritis
- Bursitis olecrani
- Tendinitis
- Tennis elbow/tennis elbow
- Golf elbow
- Traumas
Arthritis describes the inflammation in the elbow joint. This can be caused by infection or non-infection. In infection-related arthritis, there are two ways in which the bacteria could enter the elbow.
Either through an open wound or in the case of a generalized infection via the bloodstream, which is less common. In the case of previous medical interventions, such as an operation or an injection into the joint, germs that cause arthritis can also be carried over under certain circumstances. Non-infectious arthritis, also known as rheumatoid arthritis, is a disease that belongs to the rheumatic group.
This means here there are no bacteria that cause inflammation, but an autoimmunological reaction takes place. Here the immune system attacks the body’s own structures and gradually destroys them in a chronic inflammatory process. In our case this is the articular cartilage of the elbow.
In bursitis, it is not the elbow joint itself that is inflamed, but the bursa in the elbow joint. This can be acute or chronic. Various causes can trigger an inflammation of the bursa: Infection through injuries, also internal bursa injuries after a fall or bruise, rheumatoid arthritis as an underlying disease or a permanent mechanical irritation of the elbow (e.g. the so-called “bursitis informaticus olecrani” or the “student elbow”, which is inflamed and painful due to frequent support during a tendon sheath inflammation (tendovaginitis).
The most common cause of this inflammation in the elbow is excessive or monotonous strain on individual muscle groups. This can already occur during frequent computer work by using the mouse or keyboard. Musicians or craftsmen are also often affected by tendosynovitis.
With the so-called tennis elbow, the tendon attachment at the elbow is affected. The tendon attachment is located at the epicondylus, the small bony protrusion on the outside of the elbow. The musculature of this tendon attachment is responsible for the extension in fingers and hand.
Contrary to what the name suggests, tennis players are usually no longer affected by this disease. Instead, it is triggered by unusual and excessive strain. For example, after manual work that is otherwise not carried out.
This unaccustomed strain sometimes leads to small injuries at the tendon attachment, which can develop into an inflammation at the elbow and thus trigger the pain and symptoms described above. Just like the tennis elbow, the tendon at the elbow is inflamed. However, in this case the tendon attachment at the opposite bony prominence is affected.
This is where the muscles responsible for bending the fingers and hand come into play. The cause of the inflammation is also here an unusual and excessive strain on the muscles. The golfer’s elbow occurs less frequently overall than the tennis elbow.
Click here if you want to learn more about tendonitis of the elbow. After a fall or a bruise, an open wound can lead to a bacterial infection and thus an inflammation in the elbow. But also an internal injury, such as a tear in the bursa, can lead to an inflammation.So if symptoms occur after a fall (this can also be the case a few days after the event) that persist for a longer period of time, a doctor should be consulted to get to the bottom of the cause.