Prepatellar bursitis is also known as "housemaid's knee." It commonly affects cleaners, maids, people who kneel in church frequently, wrestlers, and carpet layers. It is the most common bursitis of the knee.

Bursa is a potential space, a fluid-filled sac, that can form anywhere in the body that there is friction. Under normal circumstances, the prepatellar bursa is located in front of the patella and helps with gliding movement of the patella. When a patient kneels often, putting a lot of pressure on this region, bursitis can develop.

The condition manifests with erythema, pain, inflammation, and warmth.

Septic bursitis is a concern and occurs in up to one-third of cases. Fevers and increased local warmth can suggest septic bursitis, as can wounds / lesions around the skin overlying the bursa; there may be concomitant cellulitis. Often, septic bursitis can be difficult to assess, and aspiration and culture are necessary.