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Olecranon Bursa

bursa olecrani

The olecranon bursa is a large subcutaneous bursa at the tip of the elbow, prone to swelling from repeated pressure during leaning on the elbow or from a direct blow. Like the prepatellar bursa, its superficial position makes septic infection a serious risk, and gout is a common cause of olecranon bursitis in hyperuricaemic patients who may develop tophi within the bursa.

Region: Upper Arm

Biomechanics

Function & Actions

Reduces friction between the elbow skin and the bony olecranon process during elbow flexion and extension

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

Olecranon bursitis produces a dramatically visible soft swelling at the elbow tip that is often painless in non-infective cases, alarming patients who may mistake it for a tumour. Aspiration reveals clear straw-coloured fluid in non-infective traumatic bursitis, cloudy fluid with crystals in gout, and purulent fluid in septic bursitis. Repeated aspiration alone has a high recurrence rate and surgical bursectomy is more definitive for chronic traumatic cases.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Olecranon Bursitis

Soft swelling at the elbow tip from trauma, prolonged pressure, gout, or septic infection, requiring aspiration to exclude infection and guide management toward compression, gout treatment, or antibiotics as appropriate.