[Bursitis tendinis calcanei in extensive calcaneus erosion].

Introduction: Mechanical and static stress as well as rheumatic diseases may cause retrocalcanear bursitis. Anatomic variants of the calcaneus predispose to this bursitis.

Case: A 51-year-old woman being afraid of operation waited 2 years before undergoing bursectomy al her right heel. For this reason the increase of calcanear bone loss and its stabilisation by sclerosis is well documented in X-rays and MR images. A secondary synovialitis of the peroneal tendons decided completely after bursectomy. No signs of rheumatic disease were found.

Conclusion: The radiological, clinical and hisiological findings in long-persisting bursitis are often simular to those found in patients with rheumatic disease. Normal laboratory findings do not preclude an early stadium of rheumatic disease. For this reason, these patients had to be instructed to return if they develop further synovialitis to verify the diagnosis and to avoid delayed therapy.