INTRODUCTION​

• Knee prepatellar bursitis is a painful condition caused by inflammation of one of the knee bursae between the kneecap (patellar) and overlying skin

• A bursa is a fluid filled sac that serves as a lubricant between muscles/tendons to allow for smooth frictionless motion

• When irritated, the bursa inflames and becomes filled with fluid, thereby causing pain 

CAUSES 

• There are many potential causes for knee prepatellar bursitis. Most commonly, it is due to kneeling or repetitive activity involving the kneecap rubbing against the overlying skin and leading to inflammation

• Other causes include direct trauma or fall on the knee, tendinopathy of surrounding tendons, or idiopathic with no known cause

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Patients with knee prepatellar bursitis have pain in the front of the knee

• They often report tenderness to palpation over the front of the knee and pain with repetitive knee motion

TREATMENT​​

• A course of rest, compression wrap, ice, and anti-inflammatories is the mainstay of treatment for knee prepatellar bursitis

• Aspiration may be an option in patients with significant knee prepatellar bursitis

• If there is concern, aspiration and antibiotics may be started

• Surgery is only considered in patients with failure of extensive conservative management

• Surgery consists of bursa excision 

PREVENTION  ​​

• Avoiding constant kneeling without pads and repetitive knee motions can help decrease the chance of knee prepatellar bursitis