SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF ASEPTIC OLECRANON BURSITIS

Most cases of aseptic olecranon bursitis respond to conservative treat ment, yet some will develop a chronic bursitis with sufficient symptom s to warrant surgery. Over a 10-year period 21 cases of aseptic olecra non bursitis were treated surgically at our institution. Surveillance was a minimum of 2 years and averaged 5.2 years. The procedure provide d complete and long-term relief in only 40% (two of five) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whereas 94% (15 of 16) of the patients with out rheumatoid arthritis did well (p = 0.028, Fisher's Exact test). No patients had deep infection or draining wounds. Properly performed su rgical treatment of aseptic olecranon bursitis appears to offer long-l asting symptomatic relief to patients without rheumatoid arthritis.