Am I At Risk Of Getting Housemaid’s Knee?

Did you suffer a fall or a direct blow to the knee?

Do you usually spend a long time kneeling, pressing the cap (patella), for example if you work as carpet fitters, concrete finishers and roofers?

Do you have a cut, scratch or injury to the skin on the knee surface?

Do you already have an inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis?

Do you have gout or pseudogout?

Do you have a chronic illness or are you being treated with steroids?

Based on your answers you have a low risk of getting a housemaid’s knee. Housemaid’s knee or prepatellar bursitis is a medical condition that is caused by an inflammation of the bursa (a small sac filled with fluid) located in front of the knee. The bursa facilitates movements in the knee joint by reducing friction between tendons and bones. The inflamed bursa is swollen due to the increased amount of fluid inside it. Housemaid's knee may appear suddenly or develop gradually over time. It can affect anyone, but it affects men more often than women.

Based on your answers you have a moderate risk of getting a housemaid’s knee. Housemaid’s knee refers to the inflammation of the fluid-filled sac (the bursa) which is found on the front of the knee. It can occur suddenly due to a direct blow or a fall to the knee. Trauma leads to rupture of blood vessels, which then bleed into the bursa causing swelling and inflammation. Housemaid’s knee can also be caused by an infection of the fluid inside the bursa. This can often be seen in children when bacteria spread from the open wound on the skin of the knee (cut or scratch) to the bursa.

Based on your answers you have a high risk of getting a housemaid’s knee. Housemaid’s knee is an inflammatory condition that affects the bursa (a sac filled with fluid) on the front of the knee. It is usually caused by repeated minor knee injuries. Such injuries occur in people who spend a long time kneeling and pressing the knee cap. In the past, these knee injuries were common in housemaids, so this condition was named after them. Today, this condition can be found in carpet fitters, concrete finishers and roofers. People with a pre-existing inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of developing housemaid's knee.