title: Surgical treatment of aseptic olecranon bursitis.
abstract: Most cases of aseptic olecranon bursitis respond to conservative treatment, yet some will develop a chronic bursitis with sufficient symptoms to warrant surgery. Over a 10-year period 21 cases of aseptic olecranon bursitis were treated surgically at our institution. Surveillance was a minimum of 2 years and averaged 5.2 years. The procedure provided complete and long-term relief in only 40% (two of five) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whereas 94% (15 of 16) of the patients without rheumatoid arthritis did well (p = 0.028, Fisher's Exact test). No patients had deep infection or draining wounds. Properly performed surgical treatment of aseptic olecranon bursitis appears to offer long-lasting symptomatic relief to patients without rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Manzanares
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Morrey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications; D002062:Bursitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004551:Elbow Joint; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome