Bursitis: an updated view

Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa, a bag -shaped structure, which is located between bones, tendons and muscles, with a function of facilitating the movement of said structures with respect to each other. The etiology of bursitis can be mechanical (trauma or overuse), microcrystalline (gouty), septic and, in some cases, associated with certain inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthropathies. The most common bursitis are olecranon, prepatellar, anserine, and trochanteric. The objective of this paper is to present an updated review of the bursitis that most frequently occurs in daily medical practice and an overview of its diagnosis and treatment. Bursitis is a frequent disease in the rheumatology clinic, which is related to certain types of work activities. The exhaustive interrogation and the meticulous physical examination allow to approach the diagnosis with enough accuracy. Ultrasound is the technique of choice in confirming the clinical diagnosis. Bursal fluid analysis will be essential for the etiological diagnosis, especially in septic bursitis. The evolution is favorable in all cases after establishing specific treatment based on the different etiologies.