Knee Bursectomy in Pearland, TX

What Is a Bursa and Why Does It Matter?

A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that sits between bones, tendons, and muscles around your joints. Its job is to reduce friction and cushion movement. Your knee has several bursae, and they normally function without you noticing them.

The problems start when a bursa gets irritated or inflamed. That’s called bursitis. The sac fills with excess fluid, swells up, and starts causing pain. In the knee, the prepatellar bursa (the one right in front of your kneecap) is the most commonly affected. But other bursae around the knee can flare up too.

Causes of Knee Bursitis

Bursitis can develop for a number of reasons. Some of the most common include:

• Repetitive kneeling or pressure on the knee (common in jobs like flooring, plumbing, or gardening)
• A direct blow or fall onto the knee
• Overuse from sports or exercise that puts repeated stress on the joint
• An infection (septic bursitis) that gets into the bursa through a cut or scrape
• Underlying conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or gout

Some people develop bursitis once, and it clears up with rest. Others deal with it over and over again. When it keeps coming back or becomes infected, that’s when a bursectomy may become necessary.

When Can Knee Bursitis Be Treated Without Surgery?

Surgery isn’t the first option for bursitis. Most cases respond well to conservative care. Dr. Burke usually starts with basic, non-surgical options to let a swollen knee bursa settle down before considering anything more aggressive.

First, back off from whatever activity sparked the flare-up, and do low-impact moves so you don’t re-irritate the area. Ice the knee and wrap it with an elastic bandage to keep the swelling down, and take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen to help ease the pain. If the knee is visibly swollen or tight, a doctor can drain the fluid out with a tiny needle to relieve the pressure, sometimes with a targeted steroid shot to help reduce the lingering inflammation.

Physical therapy can strengthen the muscles around the knee and take pressure off the irritated bursa. Protective padding is often recommended if repetitive kneeling is part of the problem. These approaches work well for a lot of patients. But when the bursitis keeps coming back, doesn’t respond to treatment, or the bursa is infected, surgical removal becomes the right call.

When Does Knee Bursitis Need Surgery?

Dr. Burke considers knee bursectomy surgery when conservative treatments have been tried and haven’t worked. Here are the situations where surgery usually makes sense:

• The bursitis is chronic and keeps flaring up despite repeated treatment
• The bursa is infected, and antibiotics alone aren’t clearing it
• Swelling and pain are limiting your ability to walk, work, or exercise
• Aspiration and injections keep providing temporary relief but the fluid returns
• The bursa has thickened or scarred to the point that it won’t settle down on its own

Dr. Burke evaluates your knee, reviews your treatment history, and looks at imaging before recommending surgery. If the bursa can be managed without removing it, he’ll tell you that.

How Knee Bursectomy Surgery Works

A bursectomy is a relatively straightforward procedure. Dr. Burke performs it as an outpatient surgery, so you go home the same day.

Depending on where the problem is and how bad things have gotten, Dr. Burke goes with either an arthroscopic or open approach. An arthroscopic knee bursectomy uses a few tiny incisions and a small camera to see inside the joint and remove the inflamed tissue. Because it’s minimally invasive, you’ll typically have less pain afterward and a faster recovery.

If the case is more involved, like when the bursa is infected or has built up a lot of scar tissue, an open bursectomy might be the better route. Dr. Burke makes a slightly larger incision to access and remove the bursa directly.

In either case, the surgery typically takes under an hour. You’ll typically receive local or regional anesthesia, depending on your case. Once the bursa is removed, the incisions are closed, bandaged, and you’re on your way to recovery.

Recovering from Knee Bursectomy

Recovery from a bursectomy is generally quicker than most knee surgeries. The first few days are all about keeping the swelling down. Ice, elevation, and taking it easy do most of the work. Some soreness is normal and usually manageable with over-the-counter pain medications.

Most people can put weight on the leg pretty quickly. You might want crutches for the first couple of days just for comfort, but you won’t be stuck in bed. A brace or wrap may be used to keep the area protected while it heals.

Physical therapy kicks in within a week or two. It’s all about getting your range of motion back, building strength around the knee, and working your way back to your normal routine.

If it was an arthroscopic procedure, most people are back to their daily life within two to three weeks. Open bursectomy takes a bit longer, usually four to six weeks. If your job or sport is physically demanding, full recovery can stretch to about three months depending on the case.

Dr. Burke puts together a recovery plan specific to your procedure and makes sure you know what’s coming before you head home.

Risks and Considerations

Bursectomy is one of the safer knee procedures out there, and most patients get solid relief from the pain and swelling. But it’s still surgery, and that means some risks come with it.

There’s a small chance of infection at the incision site. Some people deal with temporary stiffness or weakness while the knee heals up. Nerve irritation near the surgical area can happen in rare cases, and blood clots are always a possibility with any lower leg procedure, though the odds are low.

Having a surgeon who does these procedures regularly makes a real difference in keeping those risks to a minimum. Dr. Burke goes over everything with you ahead of time so you go in feeling informed.

Why Choose Dr. Burke for Knee Bursectomy in Pearland, TX?

Dr. Burke has been treating knee conditions for over 35 years. He’s board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and holds a Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. Bursitis and bursectomy procedures are something he’s handled many times over his career.

He doesn’t rush patients into the operating room. He takes a close look at what’s going on with your knee, reviews what you’ve already tried, and gives you an honest recommendation. If surgery is the answer, he explains the procedure, the recovery, and what to expect in detail. If it’s not, he tells you that too.

We offer same-day and next-day appointments, so you’re not stuck waiting around with a swollen, painful knee. The sooner you get it evaluated, the sooner you can start feeling better.