Pes anserine bursitis
Background
- Name comes from proximity to the pes anserine (three tendons that insert on the tibia)
- Inflammatory condition of the medial knee
Risk Factors
- Osteoarthritis of knee
- Obese females
- History of athletic activity (overuse)
- e.g. runners
Tendinopathy Types
- Patellar tendonitis
- Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- Medial epicondylitis (golf elbow)
- Pes anserine bursitis
Clinical Features
- Anterior medial knee pain, frequently chronic (insertion of pes anserine)
- Worse with ascending stairs and when arising from a seated position
- Focal swelling occasionally noted over the bursa
- TTP over the bursa
Differential Diagnosis
Knee diagnoses
Acute knee injury
- Knee dislocation
- Knee fractures
- Meniscus and ligament knee injuries
- Patella dislocation
- Patellar tendonitis
- Patellar tendon rupture
- Quadriceps tendon rupture
Nontraumatic/Subacute
- Arthritis
- Gout and Pseudogout
- Osgood-Schlatter disease
- Patellofemoral syndrome (Runner's Knee)
- Patellar tendonitis (Jumper's knee)
- Pes anserine bursitis
- Popliteal cyst (Bakers cyst)
- Prepatellar bursitis (nonseptic)
- Septic bursitis
- Septic joint
- DVT
Evaluation
- Consider knee x-rays to rule out fracture
- Frequently NOT indicated. See Ottawa Knee Rules
Management
- RICE
- NSAIDS
- Physical Therapy
- Intrabursal injection with local anesthetics and/or corticosteroids (second line treatment)
- 3-5 mL of 1% lidocaine with or without methylprednisolone into point of maximal tenderness in bursa
- Do not inject actual tendons themselves.
Disposition
- Home
- Admit for IV antibiotics if infected bursa is suspected
- Follow up with primary care provider +/- Physical Therapy