Bursitis other diagnostic studies

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

Overview

Other diagnostic studies for bursitis include the aspiration of the bursal fluid. Aspiration of bursal fluids is not recommended for the diagnosis of all types of bursitis. It is usually reserved for patients with superficial bursitis.^[1]^[2]

Other diagnostic studies

Aspiration of the bursa

Aspiration of bursal fluids for diagnostic purposes is recommended under the following conditions:^[1]^[3]^[4]

Septic bursitis
- Presence of local inflammation
- Fever
- Adjacent skin infection
Crystal deposit disorders
- History of gout and pseudogout


Types of bursitis	Aspiration of bursal fluids
Septic bursitis	White blood cell count (WBC) greater than 100,000/µL with a predominance of neutrophils High protein and lactate level Low glucose level Positive culture and Gram stain
Aseptic bursitis	White blood cell count (WBC) range from 2000 to 100,000/µL Normal protein and lactate level Normal or low glucose level Negative culture and Gram stain
Bursitis associated with gout	Positive monosodium urate crystals
Bursitis associated with pseudogout	Positive calcium pyrophosphate crystals
Bursitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis	Positive cholesterol crystals

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Stell IM, Gransden WR (1998). “Simple tests for septic bursitis: comparative study”. BMJ. 316 (7148): 1877. PMC 28586. PMID 9632407.
↑ Shell, Donald, Rob Perkins, and Andrew Cosgarea. “Septic olecranon bursitis: recognition and treatment.” The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice 8.3 (1995): 217-220.
↑ Hasselbacher, P. “Arthrocentesis, synovial fluid analysis, and synovial biopsy.” Schumacher HR, Klippel JH, Koop man WJ, eds. Primer on the rheumatic diseases. Atlanta, GA: Arthritis Foundation (1993): 67-72.
↑ Shell, Donald, Rob Perkins, and Andrew Cosgarea. “Septic olecranon bursitis: recognition and treatment.” The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice 8.3 (1995): 217-220.

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[pmid9632407-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Stell IM, Gransden WR (1998). “Simple tests for septic bursitis: comparative study”. BMJ. 316 (7148): 1877. PMC 28586. PMID 9632407.

[Septic-olecranon-bursitis-2] Shell, Donald, Rob Perkins, and Andrew Cosgarea. “Septic olecranon bursitis: recognition and treatment.” The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice 8.3 (1995): 217-220.

[3] Hasselbacher, P. “Arthrocentesis, synovial fluid analysis, and synovial biopsy.” Schumacher HR, Klippel JH, Koop man WJ, eds. Primer on the rheumatic diseases. Atlanta, GA: Arthritis Foundation (1993): 67-72.

[4] Shell, Donald, Rob Perkins, and Andrew Cosgarea. “Septic olecranon bursitis: recognition and treatment.” The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice 8.3 (1995): 217-220.

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Bursitis other diagnostic studies

Overview

Other diagnostic studies

Aspiration of the bursa

References

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