Recent Developments in Septic Bursitis

Abstract

Septic bursitis is a disease that can be difficult to distinguish from aseptic bursitis. There are no definitive treatment guidelines. The optimal duration of antibiotic therapy is not defined. Most of the cases are due to infection with Staphylococcus aureus, although many other pathogens can also cause this infection. The optimal management includes early recognition and prompt initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy. Surgical management may be necessary, and complications can arise from open procedures. Endoscopic bursectomy may be considered for patients requiring surgical debridement. This approach may lead to decreased morbidity in those requiring surgical intervention.

No Wound Healing Complications or Recurrences Were Seen and a High Level of Satisfaction Was Reported in Patients Who Underwent Endoscopic Olecranon Bursectomy for Recalcitrant Olecranon Bursitis

“…The ability of an endoscopic procedure to effectively eradicate enough of a septic bursa to prevent recurrence has been called into question in the literature due to the perceived difficulty without direct visualization and an extensile incision. 10 , 11 Our patient group included 13 patients with septic cases of olecranon bursitis, all of whom were treated successfully without any major complications, recurrence, or hospitalizations.…”

“…Such an excision in an area with limited blood supply and common cellulitis makes the wound less likely to heal and more likely than other areas to experience complications requiring returns to the operating room. 10 The nature of this surgical wound and its healing time also can prove very bothersome and inconvenient for patients, especially when attempting to return to a job that requires significant motion or potential mechanical trauma to the elbow.…”

“… 12 , 13 , 14 However, more evidence for this approach to treatment is required, and concerns do linger about the ability of an endoscopic procedure to remove enough septic bursa to prevent recurrence. 10 , 11 The purpose of this study was to determine the outcomes of endoscopic olecranon bursectomy for the treatment of recalcitrant olecranon bursitis in one surgeon’s practice. We hypothesized that an endoscopic technique for the treatment of olecranon bursitis would lead to a low wound-healing complication rate and low recurrence rate with few returns to the operating room in this patient population.…”

Prepatellar Bursitis Secondary to Sepsis in the Neonatal Period

“…Although S. aureus is the most commonly isolated agent in septic bursitis cases, cases of septic bursitis based on different agents have also been reported in the literature (11). In a study in which a total of 56 adult cases were followed up due to septic bursitis and given an aspiration of bursal fluid were evaluated, while S. aureus was the most commonly isolated agent (87.5%), Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were more rarely isolated (3).…”