# Manual of Surgery/Chapter XIX

CHAPTER XIX
THE BURSAE
Anatomy--Normal and adventitious bursae--Injuries: Bursal
A bursa is a closed sac lined by endothelium and containing synovia. Some are normally present--for instance, that between the skin and the patella, and that between the aponeurosis of the gluteus maximus and the great trochanter. _Adventitious bursae_ are developed as a result of abnormal pressure--for example, over the tarsal bones in cases of club-foot.
haemorrhage may occur into the cavity of a bursa and give rise to a _bursal haematoma_. Such a haematoma may mask a fracture of the bone beneath--for example, fracture of the olecranon.
joints and tendon sheaths, and is liable to the same forms of disease.
of the skin over the prepatellar or olecranon bursa, and in neglected cases the infection transgresses the wall of the bursa and gives rise to a spreading cellulitis.
those affections of bursae which result from repeated slight traumatism incident to particular occupations. The most familiar examples of these are the enlargement of the prepatellar bursa met with in housemaids--the "housemaid's knee" (Fig. 113); the enlargement of the olecranon bursa--"miner's elbow"; and of the ischial bursa--"weaver's" or "tailor's bottom" (Fig. 116). These affections are characterised by an effusion of fluid into the sac of the bursa with thickening of its lining membrane. While friction and pressure are the most evident factors in their production, it is probable that there is also some toxic agent concerned, otherwise these affections would be much more common than they are. Of the countless housemaids in whom the prepatellar bursa is subjected to friction and pressure, only a small proportion become the subjects of housemaid's knee.
_Clinical Features._--As these are best illustrated in the different varieties of prepatellar bursitis, it is convenient to take this as the type. In a number of cases the inflammation is acute and the patient is unable to use the limb; the part is hot, swollen, and tender, and fluctuation can be detected in the bursa. In the majority the condition is chronic, and the chief feature is the gradual accumulation of fluid constituting the _bursal hydrops_ or _hygroma_. When the affection has lasted some time, or has frequently relapsed, the wall of the bursa becomes thickened by fibrous tissue, which may be deposited irregularly, so that septa, bands, or fringes are formed, not unlike those met with in arthritis deformans. These fringes may be detached and form loose bodies like those met with in joints; less frequently there are fibrinous bodies of the melon-seed type, sometimes moulded into circular discs like wafers. The presence of irregular thickenings of the wall, or of loose bodies, may be recognised on palpation, especially in superficial bursae, if the sac is not tensely filled with fluid. The thickening of the wall may take place in a uniform and concentric fashion, resulting in the formation of a fibrous tumour--_the solid bursal tumour_--a small cavity remaining in the centre which serves to distinguish it from a new growth or neoplasm.
[Illustration: FIG. 113.--Hydrops of Prepatellar Bursa in a housemaid.]
The _treatment_ varies according to the variety and stage of the affection. In recent cases the symptoms subside under rest and the application of fomentations. Hydrops may be got rid of by blistering, by tapping, or by incision and drainage. When the wall is thickened, the most satisfactory treatment is to excise the bursa; the overlying skin being reflected in the shape of a horse-shoe flap or being removed along with the bursa.
and with _rheumatism_, especially that following scarlet fever, and are apt to be persistent or to relapse after apparent cure. In the _gouty_ form, urate of soda is deposited in the wall of the bursa, and may result in the formation of chalky tumours, sometimes of considerable size (Fig. 114).
[Illustration: FIG. 114.--Section through Bursa over external malleolus, showing deposit of urate of soda. (Cf. Fig. 117.)]
_Tuberculous disease_ of bursae closely resembles that of tendon sheaths. It may occur as an independent affection, or may be associated with disease in an adjacent bone or joint. It is met with chiefly in the prepatellar and subdeltoid bursae, or in one of the bursae over the great trochanter. The clinical features are those of an indolent hydrops, with or without melon-seed bodies, or of uniform thickening of the wall of the bursa; the tuberculous granulation tissue may break down into a cold abscess, and give rise to sinuses. The best treatment is to excise the affected bursa, or, when this is impracticable, to lay it freely open, remove the tuberculous tissue with the sharp spoon or knife, and treat the cavity by the open method.
_Syphilitic disease_ is rarely recognised except in the form of bursal and peri-bursal gummata in front of the knee-joint.
_New growths_ include the fibroma, the myxoma, the myeloma or giant-celled tumour, and various forms of sarcoma.
the seat of pyogenic infection and of traumatic or trade bursitis, the latter being known as "miner's" or "student's elbow."
[Illustration: FIG. 115.--Tuberculous Disease of Sub-deltoid Bursa.
(From a photograph lent by Sir George T. Beatson.)]
The _sub-deltoid_ or _sub-acromial bursa_, which usually presents a single cavity and does not normally communicate with the shoulder-joint, is indispensable in abduction and rotation of the humerus. When the arm is abducted, the fixed lower part or floor of the bursa is carried under the acromion, and the upper part or roof is rolled up in the same direction, hence tenderness over the inflamed bursa may disappear when the arm is abducted (Dawbarn's sign). It is liable to traumatic affections from a fall on the shoulder, pressure, or over-use of the limb. Pain, located commonly at the insertion of the deltoid, is a constant symptom and is especially annoying at night, the patient being unable to get into a comfortable position. Tenderness may be elicited over the anatomical limits of the bursa, and is usually most marked over the great tuberosity, just external to the inter-tubercular (bicipital) groove. When adhesions are present, abduction beyond 10 degrees is impossible. Demonstrable effusion is not uncommon, but is disguised by the overlying tissues. If left to himself, the patient tends to maintain the limb in the "sling position," and resists movements in the direction of abduction and rotation. In the treatment of this affection the arm should be maintained at a right angle to the body, the arm being rotated medially (Codman). When pain does not prevent it, movements of the arm and massage are persevered with. In neglected cases, when adhesions have formed and the shoulder is fixed, it may be necessary to break down the adhesions under an anaesthetic.
The bursa is also liable to infective conditions, such as acute rheumatism, gonorrhoea, suppuration, or tubercle. In tuberculous disease a large fluctuating swelling may form and acquire the characters of a cold abscess (Fig. 115).
The bursa underneath the tendon of the _subscapularis_ muscle when inflamed causes alteration in the attitude of the shoulder and impairment of its movements.
An adventitious bursa forms over the _acromion_ process in porters and others who carry weights on the shoulder, and may be the seat of traumatic bursitis.
The bursa under the _tendon of insertion of the biceps_, when the seat of disease, is attended with pain and swelling about a finger's breadth below the bend of the elbow; there is pain and difficulty in effecting the combined movement of flexion and supination, slight limitation of extension, and restriction of pronation.
In the lower extremity, a large number of normal and adventitious bursae are met with and may be the seat of bursitis. That over the _tuberosity of the ischium_, when enlarged as a trade disease, is known as "weaver's" or "tailor's bottom." It may form a fluctuating swelling of great size, projecting on the buttock and extending down the thigh, and causing great inconvenience in sitting (Fig. 116). It sometimes contains a number of loose bodies.
There are two bursae over the _great trochanter_, one superficial to, the other beneath the aponeurosis of the gluteus maximus; the latter is not infrequently infected by tuberculous disease that has spread from the trochanter.
The bursa _between the psoas muscle and the capsule of the hip-joint_ may be the seat of tuberculous disease, and give rise to clinical features not unlike those of disease of the hip-joint. The limb is flexed, abducted and rotated out; there is a swelling in the upper part of Scarpa's triangle, but the movements are not restricted in directions which do not entail putting the ilio-psoas muscle on the stretch.
Cartilaginous and partly ossified loose bodies may accumulate in the ilio-psoas bursa and distend it, both in a downward direction towards the hip-joint, with which it communicates, and upwards, projecting towards the abdomen.
The bursa beneath the quadriceps extensor--_subcrural bursa_--usually communicates with the knee-joint and shares in its diseases. When shut off from the joint it may suffer independently, and when distended with fluid forms a horse-shoe swelling above the patella.
In front of the patella and its ligament is the _prepatellar bursa_, which may have one, two, or three compartments, usually communicating with one another. It is the seat of the affection known as "housemaid's knee," which is very common and is sometimes bilateral, and, less frequently, of tuberculous disease which usually originates in the patella.
[Illustration: FIG. 116.--Great Enlargement of the Ischial Bursa.
(Mr. Scot-Skirving's case.)]
The bursa _between the ligamentum patellae and the tibia_ is rarely the seat of disease. When it is, there is pain and tenderness referred to the ligament, the patient is unable to extend the limb completely, the tuberosity of the tibia is apparently enlarged, and there is a fluctuating swelling on either side of the ligament, most marked in the extended position of the limb.
Of the numerous bursae in the popliteal space, that _between the semi-membranosus and the medial head of the gastrocnemius_ is most frequently the seat of disease, which is usually of the nature of a simple hydrops, forming a fluctuating egg-or sausage-shaped swelling at the medial side of the popliteal space. It is flaccid in the flexed, and tense in the extended position. As a rule it causes little inconvenience, and may be left alone. Otherwise it should be dissected out, and if, as is frequently the case, there is a communication with the knee-joint, this should be closed with sutures.
[Illustration: FIG. 117.--Gouty Disease of Bursae in a tailor. The bursal tumours were almost entirely composed of urate of soda. (Cf. Fig. 114.)]
An adventitious bursa may form over the _lateral malleolus_, especially in tailors, giving rise to the condition known as "tailor's ankle" (Fig. 117).
The bursa _between the tendo-calcaneus (Achillis) and the upper part of the calcaneus_ may become inflamed--especially as a result of post-scarlatinal rheumatism or gonorrhoea. The affection is known as Achillo-bursitis. There is severe pain in the region of the insertion of the tendo-calcaneus, the movements at the ankle-joint are restricted, and the patient may be unable to walk. There is a tender swelling on either side of the tendon. When, in spite of palliative treatment, the affection persists or relapses, it is best to excise the bursa. The tendo-calcaneus is detached from the calcaneus, the bursa dissected out, and the tendon replaced. If there is a bony projection from the calcaneus, it should be shaved off with the chisel.
The bursa that is sometimes met with on the under aspect of the calcaneus--_the subcalcanean bursa_--when inflamed, gives rise to pain and tenderness in the sole of the foot. This affection may be associated with a spinous projection from the bone, which is capable of being recognised in a skiagram. The soft parts of the heel are turned forwards as a flap, the bursa is dissected out, and the projection of bone, if present, is removed.
The enlargement of adventitious bursae over the head of the first metatarsal in hallux valgus; over the tarsus, metatarsus, and digits in the different forms of club-foot; over the angular projection in Pott's disease of the spine; over the end of the bone in amputation stumps, and over hard tumours such as chondroma and osteoma, are described elsewhere.