Which condition is the inflammation of a bursa, commonly around the shoulder, elbow, and hip?

Which condition is the inflammation of a bursa, commonly around the shoulder, elbow, and hip?

• A. Colles Fracture
• B. Bone Spur
• C. Open/Compound Fracture
• D. Bursitis

Answer: (D)

Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions joints as they move. Bursae sit between bones and soft tissues, so when they become irritated or inflamed—often from repetitive movement, overuse, pressure, or infection—the surrounding area aches, swells, and movement can become painful or limited. This condition commonly occurs around joints with prominent bursae, like the shoulder, elbow, and hip, where tendons slide over bone during activity. The other conditions describe different problems: a distal radius fracture is a broken bone near the wrist, a bone spur is an abnormal bony growth, and an open/compound fracture is a broken bone with an open wound. None of these involve inflammation of a bursa, so the term that best fits the description is bursitis.

Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions joints as they move. Bursae sit between bones and soft tissues, so when they become irritated or inflamed—often from repetitive movement, overuse, pressure, or infection—the surrounding area aches, swells, and movement can become painful or limited. This condition commonly occurs around joints with prominent bursae, like the shoulder, elbow, and hip, where tendons slide over bone during activity.

The other conditions describe different problems: a distal radius fracture is a broken bone near the wrist, a bone spur is an abnormal bony growth, and an open/compound fracture is a broken bone with an open wound. None of these involve inflammation of a bursa, so the term that best fits the description is bursitis.