musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
How To Aspirate or Inject an Olecranon Bursa
Step by Step Description of Aspirating or Injecting an Olecranon Bursa
Identify the bursa's point of maximum fullness and aspirate at the base (bottom) of the distended bursa, trying to avoid areas of skin thinning to limit likelihood of post-aspiration leakage. Prepare the area with antiseptic solution. Spray freezing solution at the needle insertion site until it just blanches and/or inject a skin wheal of local anesthetic (eg, ≤ 1 mL). Wear gloves. Insert the needle (attached to the aspirating syringe) into the skin at the base of the bursa. Advance the needle into the center of the bursa. Gently pull back on the plunger intermittently as you advance the needle tip to the center of the swelling. Fluid will enter the syringe when the bursa is entered. Drain all fluid from the bursa. Use your fingertips to apply gentle external pressure to the bursal sac to milk the fluid toward the needle tip. If injecting the bursa, stabilize the needle hub with your hand and switch syringes. If the needle is on too tight, hold the hub of the needle with a hemostat. Inject any drugs and withdraw the needle. Apply an adhesive bandage or sterile dressing. Transfer bursal effusion samples to tubes and other transport media for Synovial fluid examination . Inspect the fluid for blood and fat. 