What is prepatellar bursitis?
Prepatellar bursitis is an irritation or inflammation of a
bursa in your knee. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that acts
as a cushion between tendons, bones, and skin.
There are several bursae in the knee. The prepatellar bursa
is located just in front of the kneecap near the attachment
of the kneecap (patellar) tendon. Prepatellar bursitis is
also called housemaid's knee from when maids were injured
cleaning floors on their knees. The injury is common in
wrestlers, who get it from their knees rubbing on the mats.
Volleyball players get it from diving onto their knees for
the ball.
How does it occur?
Bursitis can result from:
- overuse
- a direct blow to the area
- chronic friction, such as from frequent kneeling.
What are the symptoms?
Prepatellar bursitis causes pain and swelling over the front
of the knee. You may have pain when you bend or straighten
your leg.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will examine your knee for
tenderness over the bursa.
How is it treated?
Treatment may include:
- using ice packs on your knee for 20 to 30 minutes every 3
to 4 hours for 2 or 3 days or until the pain goes away
- wrapping an elastic bandage around your knee to reduce
any swelling or to prevent swelling from occurring
- taking anti-inflammatory medication
- removal by your health care provider of some of the fluid
within the bursa if it is very swollen
- injection of a corticosteroid medication into the swollen
bursa
- leg stretching exercises.
When can I return to my sport or activity?
The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or
activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too
soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to
permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a
different rate. Return to your sport or activity will be
determined by how soon your knee recovers, not by how many
days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In
general, the longer you have symptoms before you start
treatment, the longer it will take to get better.
You may safely return to your sport or activity when,
starting from the top of the list and progressing to the
end, each of the following is true:
- Your injured knee can be fully straightened and bent
without pain.
- Your knee and leg have regained normal strength compared
to the uninjured knee and leg.
- Your knee bursa is not swollen or tender to touch.
- You are able to put pressure on your bursa (such as
kneeling) without pain or swelling.
- You are able to jog straight ahead without limping.
- You are able to sprint straight ahead without limping.
- You are able to do 45-degree cuts.
- You are able to do 90-degree cuts.
- You are able to do 20-yard figure-of-eight runs.
- You are able to do 10-yard figure-of-eight runs.
- You are able to jump on both legs without pain and jump
on the injured leg without pain.
How can I prevent prepatellar bursitis?
Prepatellar bursitis is best prevented by avoiding direct
blows to the kneecap area and by avoiding prolonged
kneeling. Proper protective kneepads will help prevent
inflammation of the bursa.
Written by Pierre Rouzier, M.D., for McKesson Health Solutions LLC.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.