Knee Cap

Plumbers, carpet layers and other people who spend a lot of time on their knees often experience swelling in the front of the knee. The constant friction irritates a small lubricating sac (bursa) located just in front of the kneecap (patella). The bursa enables the kneecap to move smoothly under the skin.

Kneecap (Prepatellar) Bursitis

If the bursa becomes inflamed, it fills with fluid and causes swelling at the top of the knee. This condition is called prepatellar bursitis.

Pain associated with the kneecap

The patella, or kneecap, is one of three bones, along with the tibia (shin bone) and femur (thigh bone), that make up the knee joint. All of these bones are covered with a layer of cartilage at points where their surfaces come into contact. Furthermore, the patella is wrapped up inside a tendon. This tendon connects the quadriceps muscle of the thigh to the shin bone (tibia) below the knee joint.

Knee cap dislocation

Fracture of Knee Cap

About fifteen percent of sport injuries involve the knee. The knee is the weakest if a person is involved in high-velocity, cutting, twisting, and jumping activities.

If the kneecap has popped totally out of its groove (dislocated), the first step is to return it to its proper place. This process is called reduction. Sometimes this happens spontaneously; other times, your doctor will have to apply gentle force to push the kneecap back in place. A dislocation often damages the underside of the kneecap and the end of the thighbone, which can lead to additional pain and arthritis. Arthroscopic surgery can correct this condition.

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