Prepatellar bursitis

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.

Prepatellar bursitis can be broadly classified as:

• septic
• non septic (1)

Reference:

1. McAfee JH, Smith DL. Olecranon and prepatellar bursitis. Diagnosis and treatment. West J Med. 1988;149(5):607-10