Massive Bilateral Haemorrhagic Prepatellar Bursitis: A Case Report

Prepatellar bursitis is a common cause of anterior knee pain. We present an unusual case of massive bilateral traumatic haemorrhagic prepatellar bursitis managed with surgical excision and describe our operative findings. The patient presented with large bilateral knee swellings which had been present for six years following a fall onto both knees. The swellings interfered with his ability to wear trousers and lean up against ladders. Excision of the prepatellar swellings was performed sequentially. A thick-walled, well-demarcated cyst was excised from each knee, which was dissected from the surrounding tissues with relative ease. On the right, the contents of the cyst were entirely solid, consisting of organised haematoma (chocolate-coloured paste-like material), but on the left, a collection of thick, brown fluid was drained as well. More than two years following surgery, there has been no recurrence of the lesions. Chronic massive bilateral haemorrhagic prepatellar bursitis has not been previously reported, but in this case, it was successfully managed with surgical excision.