prepatellar bursitis
Last reviewed 11/2022
Prepatellar bursitis is caused by repeated friction between the skin and the patella.
- the prepatellar bursae is a closed space and has no communications with the knee joint (1)
- it occurs in situations where the patient is constantly on his / her knees
- this condition used to be characteristic of housemaids (hence known as the ‘housemaid’s disease’); they spent a lot of their working day on their knees washing floors etc.
- today this condition is more likely to be seen in trades such as carpet fitters.
Prepattelar bursitis can be broadly classified as:
- septic
- non septic (1)
Reference:
referral criteria from primary care - prepatellar bursititis