Symptoms

The symptoms of bursitis vary from patient to patient. A typical characteristic is a distinct swelling of the bursa, which is not only palpable but also externally visible. This is accompanied by other typical signs of inflammation such as reddening and warming of the joint.

The main characteristic of an inflammation of the bursa at the elbow is the pain and the restriction of movement caused by the inflammation, which in some cases severely restricts the affected person’s everyday life. If the bursitis is caused by bacteria, other diffuse symptoms of the disease such as fatigue, fever and flu-like symptoms can also occur. Do you perhaps have elbow arthrosis after all? Then this article might be of interest to you: Exercises for elbow arthrosis

Duration of an inflammation of the bursa in the elbow

How long a bursitis at the elbow lasts depends on the cause and severity as well as the choice of the right therapy method. With appropriate treatment, the inflammation usually subsides on its own within a few weeks. However, if the rest period is not observed or the elbow is further irritated, the inflammation may flare up again, which delays the healing process and may lead to a possible chronification of the bursitis, which usually has to be treated surgically and leads to a complete immobilization for 4-6 weeks. If the muscle atrophy is very large due to immobilization, the subsequent reconstruction phase will take correspondingly longer. How long one has to fight with a bursitis of the elbow depends on the above mentioned factors as well as on the adherence to the therapy.

Operation

Surgery is recommended for bursitis of the elbow, especially if conservative therapy methods do not show success.Even if the bursitis is caused by bacteria or the bursa has been opened by external influences (such as an accident), surgery is often the treatment of choice. The operation is performed under general or partial anesthesia. First, the surgeon will expose the bursa under the layer of fat through a 5-7cm incision at the elbow.

Once this is done, the bursa is carefully detached from the periosteum. Depending on how badly the bursa is swollen, has grown together with the periosteum or is close to surrounding tendons or nerves, the duration of the treatment can vary. Since the operation is usually performed on an outpatient basis, patients can go home a few hours after the operation.

In the first days after the operation, the arm is immobilized to ensure undisturbed wound healing. Depending on the patient, a more or less large bruise may develop in the elbow joint, which should be monitored by a physician to avoid wound infections. If the arm needs to be immobilized for a longer period of time, the doctor will usually issue a prescription for physiotherapy measures to restore the mobility and strength of the elbow.