title: Olecranon bursitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bursitis is a common medical condition, and of all the bursae in the body, the olecranon bursa is one of the most frequently affected. Bursitis at this location can be acute or chronic in timing and septic or aseptic. Distinguishing between septic and aseptic bursitis can be difficult, and the current literature is not clear on the optimum length or route of antibiotic treatment for septic cases. The current literature was reviewed to clarify these points.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reported data for olecranon bursitis were compiled from the current literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common physical examination findings were tenderness (88% septic, 36% aseptic), erythema/cellulitis (83% septic, 27% aseptic), warmth (84% septic, 56% aseptic), report of trauma or evidence of a skin lesion (50% septic, 25% aseptic), and fever (38% septic, 0% aseptic). General laboratory data ranges were also summarized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distinguishing between septic and aseptic olecranon bursitis can be difficult because the physical and laboratory data overlap. Evidence for the optimum length and route of antibiotic treatment for septic cases also differs. In this review we have presented the current data of offending bacteria, frequency of key physical examination findings, ranges of reported laboratory data, and treatment practices so that clinicians might have a better guide for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Elbow Shoulder Research Centre, Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.affiliation: Elbow Shoulder Research Centre, Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. Electronic address: srinathkamineni@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Srinath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamineni
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002062:Bursitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004551:Elbow Joint; D006801:Humans; D056740:Olecranon Process; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Bursitis; aseptic bursitis; elbow bursitis; nonseptic bursitis; olecranon bursitis; septic bursitis