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Prepatella Bursitis / Housemaids Knee
Definition: Prepatella bursitis is the inflammation of the prepatella bursa.
Causes: The most common cause of aseptic prepatella bursitis is caused by repetitive tasks involving kneeling and sustained periods of pressure over the anterior aspect of the knee. Another less common cause of prepatella bursitis is that of a septic origin, which may occur in the immunocompromised, and/or as a result of a puncture wound at the prepatella bursa with subsequent bacterial infection.
Examination: A patient suffering from prepatella bursitis will present with pain, oedema and heat over the anterior aspect of the patella. Patients usually report pain on kneeling and squatting. The examiner must determine whether the oedema is of septic or aseptic origin by taking an accurate case history and assessing the patient for any constitutional symptoms of sepsis. The patella-tap test should be negative in the case of prepatella bursitis.