Presentation
Acute elbow pain and swelling.
Patient Data
Age: 50 years
Gender: Male
From the case:
Olecranon bursitis
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**A marker was applied to the site of the patient's complaint
The olecranon bursa is distended with fluid. It shows a thick margin of low signal with fine internal septae of low signal. Extensive surrounding soft tissue edema is noted.
Mild marginal post-contrast enhancement of the bursa and mild contrast enhancement of the surrounding soft tissue.
Intact tricpes tendon.
Minimal joint effusion.
Intact tendons and ligaments of the elbow.
Case Discussion
Olecranon bursitis is classified into two types:
- nonseptic olecranon bursitis usually occurs secondary to trauma, inflammatory arthropathy, gout, rheumatoid, uremic patients. In this type, the bursa usually shows well-defined margins with homogenous signal (usually lacks internal septae) with a mild post-contrast enhancement of the bursa and the surrounding soft tissue, as in this case.
- septic olecranon bursitis, in which the bursa shows irregular margins with complex appearance and internal septations. It usually shows marked post-contrast enhancement and marked enhancement of the surrounding soft tissues. Reactive joint effusion and triceps tendon thickening are also common findings in septic bursitis.