Journal of Emergency Practice and Trauma

How much can a small bursa stretch? A curious case of massive superficial infrapatellar bursitis in the emergency departme

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

Ganesh Singh Dharmshaktu 1
Tanuja Pangtey 2

1 Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India

2 Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India

https://doi.org/DOI:10.34172/jept.2021.23
Abstract
Introduction: Inflammation of the infrapatellar bursa results from various causes like trauma, infection and overuse. Superficial skin or soft tissue infection can also lead to occasional septic bursitis. Infrapatellar bursa has two parts, superficial and deep bursae. Superficial bursa inflammation reactive to adjacent superficial skin infection may occasionally lead to secondary bursitis.
Case Presentation: We report a rare finding of acute right knee pain with extraordinary amount of fluid collection within superficial part of infrapatellar bursa in an elderly male patient. A secondary, septic and massive superficial infrapatellar bursitis was unusual in its appearance mimicking neoplastic lesion. Judicious use of clinical assessment and imaging helped to diagnose the condition.
Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment of bursitis can ensure optimal outcome and it can be used to check further complications. Atypical presentation of any bursitis should be acknowledged and the judici

Keywords

Bursa
Infrapatellar bursa
Clergyman’s knee
Knee swelling
Subjects
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Journal of Emergency Practice and Trauma
Volume 7, Issue 2
July 2021
Pages 146-148

  • Receive Date 07 April 2021
  • Revise Date 22 April 2021
  • Accept Date 17 May 2021

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