How long does bursa removal take to work for olecranon bursitis?

The removed bursa is only one part of the problem. Skin and soft tissue at the back of the elbow can be delicate, and bending the arm repeatedly places tension across the incision. Bruising, stiffness and a firm area beneath the scar may be present during healing. If infection caused the bursitis, antimicrobial treatment and careful wound monitoring are especially relevant. Your surgeon may adjust activity according to the wound and your arm’s movement.

Keep the dressing and incision protected as instructed, avoid leaning on the elbow, and use a sling or support only as directed. Move the elbow within the permitted range so it does not become stiff, but do not force it. Pause activities that cause pulling, drainage or a rise in swelling. At work, use padding and change positions once your clinician says the wound is ready for pressure.

Contact your care team for increasing redness, warmth, drainage, wound separation, fever, worsening pain or swelling that spreads along the arm. Seek urgent help for severe hand swelling, new weakness, loss of sensation, chest pain or breathing difficulty. A lump that enlarges after initial improvement should be examined rather than repeatedly pressed.

Was infection found, and do I need further treatment? When can I bend the elbow fully, drive, work at a desk or lift? How should I protect the scar from pressure, and which changes require a same-day call?