Orthopedics Book

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Fabella Syndrome

Aka: Fabella Syndrome
  1. Definition: Fabella
    1. Sesamoid bone of lateral gastrocnemius
    2. Normal variant in 10-20% of patients
    3. Posterior to lateral femoral condyle
  2. Epidemiology
    1. More common in early teen years
  3. Mechanism
    1. Friction of fabella on posterolateral femoral condyle
  4. Symptoms
    1. Slow, insidious pain onset
    2. Sharp, intermittent pain at posterolateral knee
  5. Signs
    1. Localized tenderness over fabella
      1. Best examined with fully extended knee
  6. 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

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