Housemaid's knee is an inflammation of the bursa in front of the kneecap - the pre-patellar bursa.
Page updated June 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
Repetitive pressure on the pre-patellar bursa may lead it to become inflamed. The bursa may also become infected if an object like a splinter penetrates into the bursa.
Housemaid's knee - an 'overuse' Injury
Housemaid's knee is the same thing as 'pre-patellar bursitis'.
The bursa may fill with fluid and become red and hot, and painful when the patient tries to continue the activity that triggered it off.
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Quote from peer-reviewed paper:
"....A bursa is a fluid-filled structure that is present between the skin and tendon or tendon and bone....The main function of a bursa is to reduce friction between adjacent moving structures...."
Citation: Chatra PS. Bursae around the knee joints. Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2012 Jan;22(1):27-30. doi: 10.4103/0971-3026.95400. PMID: 22623812; PMCID: PMC3354353.
Synonyms:
pre-patellar bursitis
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