prepatellar bursitis ('housemaid's knee')

Etiology

• recurrent trauma such as kneeling
• infection
• gout

Epidemiology

• commonly occurs in wrestlers, carpet layers, plumbers

Pathology

• septic prepatellar bursitis may occur

Clinical manifestations

• localized tenderness & edema anterior to the patella
• symptoms exacerbated by kneeling
• prepatellar swelling may limit flexion of knee
• pain may be noted with full flexion of the knee
• pain usually localized near the lower end of the patella
• erythema may be observed

Diagnostic procedures

• aspiration of bursa both diagnostic & therapeutic
  • all patients; only if infection suspected
  • risk of introducing infection

Management

(see bursitis)

• avoid kneeling
• prepatellar bursectomy
• prevention: wear knee pads if occupation requires kneeling

More general terms

• bursitis

Additional terms

• prepatellar bursa