Septic and aseptic olecranon bursitis in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

Over a period of four years, seven of 110 maintenance hemodialysis patients developed olecranon bursitis. In all patients it appeared in the arm on which AV access was constructed but one patient also had bilateral bursitis. None of the patients gave a history of trauma or gout. Despite similar clinical presentation, culture of bursal aspirate demonstrated septic bursitis in two patients. (One diabetic, the other on steroids). Sustained pressure on the olecranon bursa during maintenance hemodialysis and/or milk trauma in the anticoagulated state may be responsible for the lesion. Infection can occur in susceptible individuals despite no visible skin infection. Local steroid instillation and patient education to avoid putting pressure on bursa during dialysis was effective therapy in the aseptic group. Multiple aspirations and antibiotics were necessary in the septic group.