Removal of bursa at the elbow
February 26, 2012 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Mario Werner
Five weeks ago, the bursa in my elbow was removed. Now, fluid constantly forms in the elbow and it has to be punctured. The doctor has no explanation and prescribes antibiotics and dressings with Rivanol solution.
Dear patient,
a recurring swelling with effusion can have various causes. It is possible that residual tissue was left behind during the surgical procedure, which now partially leads to recurring swelling with an inflammatory component.
The former bursitis could also be caused by, for example, a bony spur on the elbow continuing to irritate and accumulate fluid. Another point to consider is if you may be overloading or supporting the elbow too early or too intensively. Are you leaning on the table a lot? Was there sufficient rest and immobilization after the operation?
It may be advisable to immobilize the arm in an upper arm splint in addition to the Rivanol dressings (which are supposed to have a cooling and anti-inflammatory effect) for 1-2 weeks to reduce constant irritation and allow the tissue to regenerate.
Another possible cause could be injury to the joint capsule of the elbow during the procedure, leading to continuous fluid leakage from the joint under the skin. In this case, a radiological examination, possibly an MRI in case of persistent symptoms, could be helpful in determining the cause of the recurring effusions.
I hope my explanation was helpful and wish you a speedy recovery.
Best regards,
Dr. med. M. Werner
