Bursitis eMedicine Emergency

Description: Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa caused by repetitive use, trauma, infection, or systemic inflammatory disease. Bursae are flattened sacs that serve as a protective buffer between bones and overlapping muscles (deep bursae) or between bones and tendons/skin (superficial bursae). These synovial-lined sacs are filled with minimal amounts of fluid to facilitate movement during muscle contraction. Deep bursae, such as the subacromial and iliopsoas bursae, are located in the fascia. Superficial bursae, such as the olecranon and prepatellar bursae, are located in the subcutaneous tissue. Humans have approximately 160 bursae. Bursitis most commonly affects the subacromial, olecranon, trochanteric, prepatellar, and infrapatellar bursae. Symptoms of bursitis may include localized tenderness, edema, erythema, and/or reduced movement.
Synonyms and related keywords: bursal synovitis, inflammation of a bursa, deep bursae, superficial bursae, subacromial bursitis, subdeltoid bursitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, olecranon bursitis, lunger elbow, iliopsoas bursitis, trochanteric bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis,Patrick-Fabere test, ischial bursitis, weaver bottom, prepatellar bursitis, housemaid knee, carpet-layer knee, beat knee, infrapatellar bursitis, clergyman knee, anserine bursitis, calcaneal bursitis, overuse injuries, gout, pseudogout, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, pancreatitis, Whipple disease, oxalosis, uremia, hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, idiopathic hypereosinophilicsyndrome, infective bursitis, septic bursitis
Eileen Chang, MD & Janet Talbot-Stern, MD 2006