title: Massive prepatellar bursitis in cerebral palsy.
abstract: This case report describes a 36-year-old African American male with cerebral palsy and bilateral slowly enlarging knee masses. He has 90 degrees fixed flexion knee contractures bilaterally. Although he has poor communication skills, he does not have discomfort while ambulating. He has developed massive bilateral prepatellar bursitis from chronic and repetitive injury to the region bearing his body weight while ambulating. As the result of a protective response, the bursa provides a cushion for the underlying bone prominences of the tibial tubercle and patella. This compensatory mechanism has allowed the patient to have functional, painless household ambulation.
authors: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Faculty Office Tower 920, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. herrick.siegel@ortho.uab.edu
authors: Herrick J
authors: HJ
authors: Siegel
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Lopez-Ben
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Pitt
authors: William K
authors: WK
authors: Dunham
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D001175:Arthrography; D002061:Bursa, Synovial / Q000293:injuries; D002062:Bursitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008124:Locomotion; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010329:Patella