Evaluation of current treatment regimens for prepatellar and olecranon bursitis in Switzerland

Bursitis is a common entity. However, evidence for the best treatment procedures is lacking, with management concepts varying internationally. We evaluated current treatment regimens for septic (SB) and nonseptic (NSB) prepatellar (PB) and (OB) olecranon bursitis in Switzerland and compared them to the published literature.

A voluntary 23-item online survey was distributed amongst all registered Swiss infectiologists and orthopedic surgeons in December 2011. The literature comparison was based on a systematic literature review.

Overall response rate was 14 % (n = 117); 11 % (n = 92) were included in the final analysis. The overwhelming majority (91 %) of the respondents differentiated between SB and NSB, with determination predominantly based on clinical presentation (83 %), blood chemistry (75 %), and bursal aspirate (66 %). NSB was predominantly treated conservatively via immobilization (78 %) and anti-inflammatory medication (73 %). For SB, 85 % indicated surgical intervention, with 73 % prescribing concomitant antibiotics. Regarding antibiotic choice, 90 % used an aminopenicillin or its derivatives for a mean of 11 ± 5 days. The literature review revealed 66 relevant publications with an overall level of evidence of 2b, arguing for a conservative treatment approach in cases of SB or NSB.

Therapeutic regimens for OB/PB differed considerably within Switzerland. Surgical intervention and antibiotic treatment was the most common therapy for SB, whereas a conservative approach predominated for NSB, which contrasts with the international literature. Clearly, prospective multicenter and multidisciplinary studies are needed to identify an optimal and cost-saving approach to the treatment of these common clinical entities.