Prepatellar Bursitis

Excerpt

Bursitis is the swelling or inflammation of a synovium-lined sac-like structure called a bursa. These are found throughout the body near bony prominences and between bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments; the bursa's function is to reduce friction between these structures. Inflammation of the bursa around large joints like the shoulder, knee, hip, and elbow may prompt patient visits to healthcare providers. There are 4 major bursae associated with the knee joint: suprapatellar, infrapatellar, pes anserine, and prepatellar. The prepatellar bursa is present between the patella and the overlying subcutaneous tissue. The prepatellar bursa represents the most commonly affected bursae of the knee and the second most commonly affected bursae overall, following the olecranon bursa. The location makes this tissue a target during repetitive kneeling and has led to this condition colloquially being referred to as "housemaids, carpet-layers, or carpenter's knee."