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    Aspiration

Preparing for Aspiration

If the swelling in the bursa in front of your kneecap persists despite rest, ice, and compression, your physician may suggest draining the fluid in the bursa with a needle. If your physician suspects you have an infection, he will have the fluid sent to a laboratory to be analyzed.

If you have been diagnosed with housemaid's knee and your doctor has suggested aspiration of the bursa in front of your kneecap, the procedure can be done at your doctor's office. No special preparations are necessary

There is no special setup required for aspiration of the bursa in front of your kneecap. The procedure can be done the first time you see your doctor, and is about as invasive as drawing a blood sample from your arm. He will clean the area with antiseptic, and in some cases, may numb it with a topical anesthetic such as lidocaine. He will then insert a needle into the bursa, and draw the fluid out. The entire procedure normally takes about five minutes. A bandage is applied to the spot of the injection and the patient is allowed to go home.

Following aspiration of the bursa to treat housemaid's knee, you usually can remove the bandage on your knee the day after the knee was drained. If aspiration of your housemaid's knee revealed an infection in the bursa, you will be placed on antibiotics for two weeks or longer. Swelling may reappear after the aspiration has been done. Consult your physician to find out if and when you should have your knee reexamined. Your first follow-up visit usually occurs within a week or 10 days. You should have little disruption to your daily activities after aspiration, though you will want to refrain from kneeling or performing any movements that require deep knee bending.

One way to minimize discomfort caused by housemaid's knee is to wear kneepads that will cushion your kneecap when you are kneeling. These should be worn on both knees for balance. Any kneepad you use should be flexible enough to allow you to kneel comfortably, but should also have enough padding over the kneecap to allow you to kneel without pain. Comfort and durability should be your main criteria.

If your work requires you to spend a lot of time on your knees on hard surfaces, it is probably wise to consider wearing kneepads before you start noticing any pain or swelling in your kneecap. If you have already been diagnosed with housemaid's knee, it is important to wear kneepads when you are able to resume any activities that require kneeling.