Arthroscopic resection of olecranon and prepatellar bursae

This article presents a new method of excision of olecranon and prepatellar bursae using an arthroscopic technique. Six cases, three in each anatomic location, are retrospectively reviewed with an average follow-up of 6.25 months (1.5-15 months). When the etiology of the bursitis was traumatic, all four cases did well. Unsatisfactory results were obtained, for both a patient with CREST syndrome (Calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, Esophageal hypomobility, Sclerodactyl, Telangietasia) and a patient with gouty bursitis. The results from this limited series would suggest reserving this technique for those cases of bursitis secondary to trauma, and not responding to conservative treatment.