Restoring Function. Embracing Life.
Shoulder Bursitis Specialist in Singapore
Dr Bryan Wang
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Trusted Orthopaedic Surgeon | Fellowship-trained in Canada | With over 15-years of experience
What is Shoulder Bursitis?
Shoulder bursitis, also known medically as subacromial bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that reduces friction and cushions the space between bones, tendons, and muscles near your shoulder joint. It commonly occurs due to repetitive shoulder movements, overuse, or trauma, but it can also result from underlying conditions like arthritis or infection. Injuries and overusing your shoulder are the most common causes of bursitis. Specifically, sports injuries or repetitive strain injuries are usually what cause chronic and acute shoulder bursitis.
Types of Shoulder Bursitis
There are 3 common types of shoulder bursitis:
Chronic: Chronic is the medical name for a condition or issue that comes back (recurs). Chronic shoulder bursitis is having repeated episodes of bursitis in your shoulder, usually from experiencing similar injuries or overuse. It’s the most common type.
Acute: Acute bursitis happens suddenly as a one-off episode, usually after an injury.
Infectious (septic): This is bursitis that happens when an infection somewhere else in your body spreads to your shoulder bursae.
What are the symptoms?
Patients with shoulder bursitis may present with the following symptoms:
Shoulder pain, especially when moving or pressing on the shoulder
Swelling and tenderness around the joint
Limited range of motion
Stiffness or aching, often worsening at night or with overhead activities
Discolouration or redness on your skin
A feeling of heat or warmth
How to Diagnose?
Clinical assessment will include taking a detailed history and a thorough examination of your shoulder, identifying pain and movement limitations.
Further imaging tests like X-rays, MRI and CT scans may occasionally be required to look for inflammation in your bursae and or damage in other parts of shoulder.
Shoulder Bursitis Treatment
What are my Treatment options?
If you have any of the symptoms above, it is advisable to see an orthopaedic specialist for further assessment. The appropriate treatment is decided after assessment and a collaborative discussion based on your needs. They can be broadly divided into conservative (non-surgical) and surgical options.
Shoulder Arthritis Conservative Treatment
Non-surgical measures will usually be recommended first if you have not had any prior treatment for your shoulder bursitis and your symptoms are mild or manageable.
These may include a combination or all of the following measures:
Rest and Activity Modification
To reduce inflammation within the shoulder joint, and/or aggravate the shoulder
Cold Therapy
Ice packs to reduce swelling
Medications
Anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling
Physiotherapy
To strengthen the shoulder muscles and improve range of motion
Cortisone injection
This may sometimes be required if the pain is persistent
Shoulder Bursitis Surgical Treatment
In the severe case of shoulder bursitis such as shoulder pain and weakness is persistent despite all the above measures, surgery may sometimes be required. The appropriate surgical treatment will depend on your age and functional demands, and also the underlying cause of the shoulder bursitis. You’re more likely to require surgery if you have chronic shoulder bursitis that affect your daily activities.
Shoulder bursitis surgery is usually done with a shoulder arthroscopy. Dr Bryan will remove or repair damaged tissue in your shoulder joint and may also remove the inflamed bursae to create more space within the shoulder. A collaborative pre and post surgery plan will be discussed so that you are aware of what to expect and how long it’ll take to recover.
