Knee

Fabella Syndrome

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Fabella Syndrome

  • Definition
  • Fabella
  1. Sesamoid bone of lateral gastrocnemius
  2. Normal variant in 10-20% of patients
  3. Posterior to lateral femoral condyle
  • Epidemiology
  1. More common in early teen years
  • Mechanism
  1. Friction of fabella on posterolateral femoral condyle
  • Symptoms
  1. Slow, insidious pain onset
  2. Sharp, intermittent pain at posterolateral knee
  • Signs
  1. Localized tenderness over fabella
    1. Best examined with fully extended knee
  • Management
  1. Conservative therapy
    1. RICE-M
    2. NSAIDs
    3. Heel lifts (shorten gastrocnemius)
  2. Surgical excision indications
    1. Failed conservative therapy after 6 month trial