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Bursitis medical therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mehrsefat, M.D. [2]

Overview

Overview

Medical therapy for non-septic bursitis depends on the involved bursa and includes the RICE regimen (rest, ice, compression, elevation), NSAIDs, and/or corticosteroid injections. Restriction of activity is encouraged to prevent further injury and promote healing. Antimicrobials are the mainstay of therapy for septic bursitis. Surgical management is often reserved for non-responders.[1][2][3]

Medical Therapy

Medical Therapy

Medical therapy for non-septic bursitis depends on the involved bursa and includes the RICE regimen (rest, ice, compression, elevation), NSAIDs, and/or corticosteroid injections. Restriction of activity is encouraged to prevent further injury and promote healing. Antimicrobials are the mainstay of therapy for septic bursitis. Surgical management is often reserved for non-responders.[1][2][3]

Septic[1][2] Aseptic

Subacromial Bursitis

Conservative measures that are recommended among all patients who develop subacromial bursitis include:[4][5]

Prepatellar Bursitis

Conservative measures that are recommended among all patients who develop prepatellar bursitis include: [3][6]

Olecranon Bursitis

Conservative measures that are recommended among all patients who develop olecranon bursitis include:[3][7]

  • RICE regimen in the first 72 hours after the injury (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
  • Avoidance of aggravating physical activity
  • Most patients improve significantly with these measures, so physical and occupational therapy are not usually necessary
  • Early aspiration (with or without corticosteroid injection) may be helpful among patients with bothersome fluid collections
  • Diagnostic aspiration should be performed among patients who do not respond to treatment in order to rule out possible infection

Trochanteric Bursitis

Conservative measures that are recommended among all patients who develop trochanteric bursitis include:[3][8]

Physical therapy and NSAIDs are the most effective therapies for trochanteric bursitis. Most patients do not require any surgical intervention.

Retrocalcaneal Bursitis

Conservative measures that are recommended among all patients who develop retrocalcaneal bursitis include:[3][9]

Corticosteroid injections are not recommended as they may have adverse effects on the Achilles tendon.

Antimicrobial Regimens

  • Standard antimicrobial regimens for septic bursitis are as follows:[10]
  • 1. Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-susceptible (MSSA)
  • 2. Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant (MRSA)
References

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Reilly D, Kamineni S (2016). “Olecranon bursitis”. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 25 (1): 158–67. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2015.08.032. PMID 26577126.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Zimmermann B, Mikolich DJ, Ho G (1995). “Septic bursitis”. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 24 (6): 391–410. PMID 7667644.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Aaron DL, Patel A, Kayiaros S, Calfee R (2011). “Four common types of bursitis: diagnosis and management”. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 19 (6): 359–67. PMID 21628647.
  4. Van der Windt, D. A., et al. “Shoulder disorders in general practice: incidence, patient characteristics, and management.” Annals of the rheumatic diseases 54.12 (1995): 959-964.
  5. Chang, Won Hyuk, et al. “Comparison of the therapeutic effects of intramuscular subscapularis and scapulothoracic bursa injections in patients with scapular pain: a randomized controlled trial.” Rheumatology international 34.9 (2014): 1203-1209.
  6. Wilson-MacDonald J (1987). “Management and outcome of infective prepatellar bursitis”. Postgrad Med J. 63 (744): 851–3. PMC 2428634. PMID 3447109.
  7. Lockman, Leonard. “Treating nonseptic olecranon bursitis A 3-step technique.” Canadian Family Physician 56.11 (2010): 1157-1157.
  8. Farmer, Kevin W., et al. “Trochanteric bursitis after total hip arthroplasty: incidence and evaluation of response to treatment.” The Journal of arthroplasty 25.2 (2010): 208-212.
  9. Vallone G, Vittorio T (2014). “Complete Achilles tendon rupture after local infiltration of corticosteroids in the treatment of deep retrocalcaneal bursitis”. J Ultrasound. 17 (2): 165–7. doi:10.1007/s40477-014-0066-9. PMC 4033727. PMID 24883139.
  10. Gilbert, David (2015). The Sanford guide to antimicrobial therapy. Sperryville, Va: Antimicrobial Therapy. ISBN 978-1930808843.

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