Superficial infrapatellar bursitis

Last revised by Joachim Feger on 24 Jul 2022

Infrapatellar bursitis (or clergyman's knee) occurs with inflammation of bursae around the insertion of the distal patellar tendon. The inflamed bursa may be:

  • superficial/subcutaneous: anterior to the distal patellar tendon
  • deep: posterior to the distal patellar tendon, in the region of the infrapatellar fat pad (Hoffa's fat pad).

Radiographic features

Inflammation of an infrapatellar bursa is well detected on either targeted musculoskeletal ultrasound or on MRI.

Related pathology

Infrapatellar bursitis may be a component of Osgood-Schlatter disease.

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