OBJECTIVES: After resection of olecranon or prepatellar bursa for bursitis there can be long-term skin complications in up to 20%. We wanted to determine the outcome after endoscopic resection, a technique first described in 1990. METHODS: In a period of three years (6/97-7/00) 13 Patients with bursitis were prospectively enclosed in the study and underwent endoscopic resection of the bursa. All patients were examined clinically three weeks and six months postoperatively. RESULTS: In nine patients a resection of the Olecranon bursa was performed, in four patients of the pre-patellar bursa. 11 cases showed a septic bursitis, two a chronic. 50% of the operations were conducted in general anesthesia. We observed no intra- or postoperative complications. The follow-up examinations showed no pain, no recurrence and no loss of joint motion. CONCLUSION: It is our opinion that the endoscopic resection of the Olecranon and pre-patellar bursa for septic bursitis is a promising technique and shows favourable results compared to the open resection.
OBJECTIVES: After resection of olecranon or prepatellar bursa for bursitis there can be long-term skin complications in up to 20%. We wanted to determine the outcome after endoscopic resection, a technique first described in 1990. METHODS: In a period of three years (6/97-7/00) 13 Patients with bursitis were prospectively enclosed in the study and underwent endoscopic resection of the bursa. All patients were examined clinically three weeks and six months postoperatively. RESULTS: In nine patients a resection of the Olecranon bursa was performed, in four patients of the pre-patellar bursa. 11 cases showed a septic bursitis, two a chronic. 50% of the operations were conducted in general anesthesia. We observed no intra- or postoperative complications. The follow-up examinations showed no pain, no recurrence and no loss of joint motion. CONCLUSION: It is our opinion that the endoscopic resection of the Olecranon and pre-patellar bursa for septic bursitis is a promising technique and shows favourable results compared to the open resection.