Prepatellar bursitis

PPrepatellar bursitis is a key form of knee bursitis. It occurs due to inflammatory of the prepatellar bursa just anterior to the patellar bone and presents with tenderness and swelling. It notably results from infection (skin bacteria), trauma (prolonged kneeling), gout (deposition of arthritic crystals), and inflammatory arthritic conditions. There can be associated knee effusion/distention and difficulty with knee extension. Bursal rupture can occur due to high cavitary pressure. Diagnosis involves clinical evaluation, imaging, and bursal fluid aspiration (when appropriate). Treatment greatly depends on the underlying etiology (eg, infection vs gout). Note that this condition goes by a variety of names: housemaid's knee, handmaid's knee, carpenter's knee, etc...