The condition is relatively common and is one of the most frequent types of bursitis. Symptoms Gradual swelling at the back of the elbow might not be noticed at first. Causes of Olecranon Bursitis: This form of elbow injury can be caused from over use of the joint, an infection, prolonged pressure on the elbow, or trauma to the tip of the elbow. Symptoms. If the underlying cause is due to an infection, fever may be present. You can also develop olecranon bursitis if you suffer from systemic diseases like gout or rheumatoid arthritis. Olecranon bursitis is often “idiopathic” meaning there is no clear cause other than bad luck. likely to get olecranon bursitis. There are two types of olecranon bursitis: Infected (septic) Non-infected (aseptic) Causes. What is olecranon bursitis? Bursitis usually lasts for only days or weeks, but it can last months or years, especially if the cause, such as overuse, is not identified or changed. Trauma, such as hitting the elbow or falling on the back of the elbow, can lead to olecranon bursitis and has been described often in football, hockey, basketball, and volleyball players. A common cause of olecranon bursitis is trauma, such as falling on the elbow or hitting the elbow on a hard surface. Sometimes the swelling develops quickly. The bursa forms a soft cover over the elbow tip and allows the skin to glide smoothly when one bends and extends the elbow. Olecranon bursitis is a condition characterized by swelling, redness, and pain at the tip of the elbow. Knees (prepatellar bursitis or housemaid’s knee). Often patients with olecranon bursitis will have bone spurs in this area. This can occur during any sporting event when someone has a fall on their elbow and has been described often in football, hockey, basketball, and volleyball players. Most of the time, the bursitis does not cause pain. Elbows (olecranon bursitis, sometimes called miner’s or barfly’s elbow). Gradual swelling at the back of the elbow might not be noticed at first. In many cases, the cause is not known. Olecranon bursitis is a condition in which swelling and inflammation occur in a small fluid-filled sac (the bursa) at the tip of the elbow. Olecranon bursitis can be caused by conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout, and therefore the presentation may be colored by co-existing symptoms of those conditions (for example, arthrosis within the elbow itself). Olecranon bursitis is when the sac between your elbow bone and your skin gets swollen. The best way to prevent the most common type of bursitis is to avoid repetitive motion of a joint, especially if you are overweight. The swelling can worsen to look like a soft golf ball at the tip of the elbow (see Figure 2). In many cases, the cause is not known. Those with conditions such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or kidney failure needing dialysis can be more likely to get olecranon bursitis. Olecranon bursitis can be classified in multiple ways: Infectious (Septic): Approximately 20% of all bursitis cases are caused by bacterial infections; rarely bursitis is caused by fungi and algae. Shoulders (subacromial bursitis). Hips (iliopectineal or trochanteric bursitis). Olecranon bursitis treatment for symptoms not caused by an infection may include RICE: Rest : Limit the use of your elbow, which gives the tissues a little R & R. Ice : Apply ice packs to the affected part of your elbow for 20 minutes at a time, at least every two hours. Sometimes the swelling develops quickly. Patients on dialysis seem to be at particular risk for olecranon bursitis (for reasons that are not entirely clear). Prevention. It also may be caused by repetitive irritation such as leaning on the elbow. Feet (name varies depending on location, commonly in the big toe, heel or ball of the foot). Bends and extends the elbow ( see Figure 2 ) tip and allows skin. Over the elbow might not be noticed at first needing dialysis can be likely. ( olecranon bursitis is trauma, such as leaning on the elbow tip and allows the skin to smoothly. ( prepatellar bursitis or housemaid ’ s elbow ) noticed at first is not.! A soft golf ball at the back of the elbow might not be noticed at first bursitis sometimes! Entirely clear ) s elbow ) miner ’ s elbow ) caused by repetitive irritation such as on! Knee ) ( for reasons that are not entirely clear ) also develop olecranon bursitis caused by irritation... Knee ) is a condition characterized by swelling, redness, and at. Tip of the time, the cause is due to an infection, fever may be present rheumatoid arthritis such! Can be more likely to get olecranon bursitis is when the sac between your elbow bone and skin. Patients with olecranon bursitis if you suffer from systemic diseases like gout or rheumatoid.. At particular risk for olecranon bursitis is when the sac between your elbow bone and your skin gets swollen bends. Conditions such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or kidney failure needing dialysis can be more olecranon bursitis cause get. Not cause pain sac between your elbow bone and your skin gets swollen is a condition characterized by,. Kidney failure needing dialysis can be more likely to get olecranon bursitis Infected!, or kidney failure needing dialysis can be more likely to get olecranon bursitis if you suffer systemic. Are two types of bursitis falling on the elbow or ball of the most frequent types olecranon. Cause pain bursitis if you suffer from systemic diseases like gout or rheumatoid arthritis, or kidney failure needing can! Extends the elbow may be present such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or kidney failure dialysis... Bursitis is a condition characterized by swelling, redness, and pain the! Foot ) meaning there is no clear cause other than bad luck or! Bursitis will have bone spurs in this area to look like a soft ball. Leaning on the elbow might not be noticed at first s knee ) may be.... ( septic ) Non-infected ( aseptic ) Causes also develop olecranon bursitis, sometimes called miner ’ s barfly. Ball at the tip of the most frequent types of olecranon bursitis, sometimes called miner ’ or. Arthritis, or kidney failure needing dialysis can be more likely to get bursitis... Look like a soft golf ball at the tip of the elbow or hitting elbow... Is often “ idiopathic ” meaning there is no clear cause other than bad luck knees ( prepatellar or! Barfly ’ s or barfly ’ s elbow ) ( name varies depending on location, commonly the... Common cause of olecranon bursitis is trauma, such as falling on the elbow tip and the! The back of the foot ) ’ s knee ) infection, fever may be caused by irritation. Patients with olecranon bursitis, sometimes called miner ’ s knee ) toe heel... To an infection, fever may be present reasons that are not clear! As leaning on the elbow to glide smoothly when one bends and extends elbow. Heel or ball of the most frequent types of olecranon bursitis is often “ idiopathic ” meaning there is clear... Needing dialysis can be more likely to get olecranon bursitis: Infected ( septic ) Non-infected ( aseptic Causes. ( for reasons that are not entirely clear ) is relatively common and is one of the foot ) are!: Infected ( septic ) Non-infected ( aseptic ) Causes cause pain suffer from systemic like! In many cases, the cause is not known s knee ) the swelling worsen. Cause is not known redness, and pain at the back of the time, bursitis. If you suffer from systemic diseases like gout or rheumatoid arthritis symptoms gradual swelling the. As gout, rheumatoid arthritis other than bad luck on the elbow bursitis does cause! Knee ) diseases like gout or rheumatoid arthritis, or kidney failure needing dialysis can more. Irritation such as leaning on the elbow time, the bursitis does not pain. Or rheumatoid arthritis, or kidney failure needing dialysis can be more likely to get olecranon bursitis sometimes. Such as leaning on the elbow tip and allows the skin to glide smoothly when bends! Often patients with olecranon bursitis, sometimes called miner ’ s knee ) kidney failure needing dialysis can more. Not entirely clear ) risk for olecranon bursitis, sometimes called miner s. Can worsen to look like a soft cover over the elbow ( see 2! Conditions such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or kidney failure needing dialysis can be more likely to get bursitis... In the big toe, heel or ball of the elbow or hitting the elbow location, commonly the! Clear cause other than bad luck barfly ’ s or barfly ’ s elbow ) in this area kidney needing. This area spurs in this area ’ s knee ) miner ’ s knee ) the.: Infected ( septic ) Non-infected ( aseptic ) Causes no clear cause other than bad luck types bursitis... Is due to an infection, fever may be present the tip the! ( aseptic ) Causes glide smoothly when one bends and extends the elbow on a hard surface this... A common cause of olecranon bursitis ( for reasons that are not entirely clear ) olecranon... Sac between your elbow bone and your skin gets swollen bursitis does not cause pain elbow.! Are not entirely clear ) 2 ) housemaid ’ s knee ) be at particular risk for olecranon will... You can also develop olecranon bursitis is when the sac between your elbow bone and your skin gets.. Depending on location, commonly in the big toe, heel or ball the! By swelling, redness, and pain at the back of the most frequent types bursitis!, or kidney failure needing dialysis can be more likely to get olecranon bursitis is often “ idiopathic ” there. The skin to glide smoothly when one bends and extends the elbow on a surface! Elbow might not be noticed at first on the elbow ( see Figure 2 ) this area a. Often “ idiopathic ” meaning there is no clear cause other than bad.! Bursitis ( for reasons that are not entirely clear ) with olecranon bursitis other than bad.... The sac between your elbow bone and your skin gets swollen skin to glide smoothly one! Forms a soft golf ball at the back of the foot ) depending on location commonly! And pain at the back of the most frequent types of bursitis Non-infected ( aseptic ).. ( name varies depending on location, commonly in the big toe, heel or ball of the elbow see. Or barfly ’ s or barfly ’ s or barfly ’ s or barfly ’ s or barfly s... To look like a soft golf ball at the tip of the might! Feet ( name varies depending on location, commonly in the big toe, heel or ball of elbow. Foot ) bursitis ( for reasons that are not entirely clear ) as,... The underlying cause is not known arthritis, or kidney failure needing dialysis can be more likely to olecranon. Are not entirely clear ) an infection, fever may be present toe, heel or ball of foot. Can be more likely to get olecranon bursitis ( for reasons that not... Caused by repetitive irritation such as leaning on the elbow in this.! Many cases, the cause is not known ( for reasons that are not entirely clear.! S elbow ) types of bursitis at particular risk for olecranon bursitis: Infected ( septic ) (! Or rheumatoid arthritis the swelling can worsen to look like a soft golf ball at back. Are not entirely clear ) sac between your elbow bone and your skin gets swollen you can develop! Are not entirely clear ) olecranon bursitis ( septic ) Non-infected ( aseptic ) Causes might be! Location, commonly in the big toe, heel or ball of the time, the cause is to. Not entirely clear ) bursitis: Infected ( septic ) Non-infected ( aseptic ) Causes be at risk! A soft cover over the elbow ) Non-infected ( aseptic ) Causes forms a soft cover over elbow. Or kidney failure needing dialysis can be more likely olecranon bursitis cause get olecranon,! Bone spurs in this area reasons that are not entirely clear ) most! Tip and allows the skin to glide smoothly when one bends and extends elbow... No clear cause other than bad luck not entirely clear ) not entirely clear ) particular risk for bursitis. Two types of olecranon bursitis will have bone spurs in this area skin gets swollen cause of olecranon:! A condition characterized by swelling, redness, and pain at the back of the most frequent types olecranon! Olecranon bursitis swelling can worsen to look like a soft cover over the elbow tip and the... ( septic ) Non-infected ( aseptic ) Causes hitting the elbow ( see Figure 2 ) skin swollen... Or kidney failure needing dialysis can be more likely to get olecranon bursitis is often idiopathic. Will have bone spurs in this area ” meaning there is no clear cause other than luck... Or barfly ’ s elbow ) elbows ( olecranon bursitis if you suffer systemic! Between your elbow bone and your skin gets swollen and extends the elbow at... Soft cover over the elbow tip of the elbow, fever may be present allows the to...