Background

The fabella is a sesamoid bone in the posterolateral capsule of the human knee joint. The presence of the fabella in humans varies widely and is reported in the literature to range from 20% to 87%[1–7].

The fabella is located in the posterior aspect of the knee where lines of tensile stress intersect.

It articulates with the posterior part of the articular surface of the lateral femoral condyle and is embedded in the muscular fibres of the gastrocnemius muscle[5].

Anteriorly the fabella is bordered by the posterior capsule of the knee joint and posteriorly it is situated at the endpoint of the oblique popliteal ligament and the lateral gastrocnemius tendon. In addition the fabellofibular ligament (or lig. of Vallois) runs to its distal insertion at the fibular head.

Recent anatomic studies suggest that the presence of a fabella is higher in the Asian population[3, 4, 6].

Functionally, the fabella is believed to have a role similar to the patella in redirecting extension forces of the knee joint from one point to another whereas the fabella redirects forces on the flexor side[5].

Posterolateral knee pain can be associated with the presence of a fabella and this incidence may be referred to as a fabella syndrome[8–15].

It is characterized by periodic pain in the posterolateral aspect of the knee.

Pain increases with extension of the knee causing tension by pressing the fabella onto the lateral femoral condyle. Symptoms may also be present in cases in which the fabella remains non ossified as a cartilaginous structure[8].

Another major symptom caused by a fabella may be palsy of the common fibular (CF) nerve[16, 17]. The CF nerve has been shown to be significantly reduced in diameter in relation to the fabella compared to proximally[1].

Ultrasound imaging may provide valuable information regarding the posterolateral structures of the knee including the presence of a fabella[18, 19].

Lateral radiographs of the knee as well as MRI Imaging are able to reveal the position of a fabella in relation to the posterolateral femoral condyle.

It was the purpose of this article to firstly report about a systematic review of the current literature on the fabella syndrome and to secondly report two cases treated with this rare syndrome.

Case presentation

Literature search

A “pub med” research was performed using the term “fabella syndrome”. The publications were analysed for symptoms described, therapies applied, indications for surgery and clinical results reported.

Case reports

We examined two male patients with a long history (> 12 month) of posterolateral knee pain of unknown origin who presented in our outpatient department.

Both patients underwent standard clinical examination (Lachman Test, anterior & posterior drawer Test, medial and lateral collateral ligament test, mensicus test, palpation of posterolateral aspect of the knee) and radiographic diagnostics such as ultrasound, plain radiographs (a.p. and lateral view) and MRI.

Both patients underwent previous surgery for the same symptoms which they were presenting to us.

Patient A did undergo arthroscopy with partial medial meniscectomy before presenting at our department.

Patient B underwent bilateral knee arthroscopy before presenting to our department with complaints of persisting pain during sports in the posterolateral aspect of the right knee. Similar symptoms occurred in both sides. MRI images and pictures of the resected fabella are shown in Figure 1,2,3,4 and5.

Figure 1
figure 1

Sagittal view of lateral right knee showing the fabella in close topographical relation to the posterior lateral femoral condyle embedded in the lateral head of gastrocnemius muscle.

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Figure 2
figure 2

Axial view of the same knee showing the relation of the fabella to the cartilage of the posterior lateral femoral condyle.

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Figure 3
figure 3

Resected fabella with cartilaginous surface.

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Figure 4
figure 4

Resecting the fabella through a lateral incision between M. biceps femoris, iliotibial band and posterolateral femoral condyle.

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Figure 5
figure 5

Sagittal view after 3 month after resection of the fabella; intact posterolateral capsule & gastrocnemius muscle with little scar tissue.

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Both patients were passionate recreational athletes and reported increasing pain whilst performing running or playing tennis with pain resolving hours after resting. Both did not report any symptoms in activities of daily living.

The activity level of both patients was determined according to the Tegner score (preoperative value of both: 3). Pain and subjective assessment of knee function were analysed using the IKDC score[20], and the Visual Analogue score (VAS). All scores were delivered preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively.

Results

Literature review

The review of the literature searching the PubMed online data revealed five case reports and three studies with more than 10 patients in each paper[8–10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 21].

The findings and outcome results of reported patients with the treatment of a fabella syndrome are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1 Details derived from six case reports found through PubMed research
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Weiner et al. described the largest number of patients (n = 16) treated for pain associated with the presence of a fabella.

According to their publication five patients responded to conservative treatment. Eleven patients required surgery, all of which obtained immediate relief of symptoms with removal of the ossified fabella, cartilaginous fabella, or thickened gastrocnemius fibres[8].

Dannawi et al. presented two cases of symptomatic pain caused by the presence of a fabella. Both underwent arthroscopic resection and are reported to suffer no pain 12 month after surgery[14].

Müller also described an interesting case that undermines the theory of the fabella forming in response to appropriate stress. An 18-year-old female presented to their department having sustained a complex knee injury. Radiographs were obtained which showed no evidence of a fabella. The patient was treated non-operatively. Several years later following further presentation to the department for ongoing symptoms further imaging was obtained. These showed evidence of a fabella which had not previously been present at first review[5].

Common fibular nerve palsy

Two reports from Japan were found describing the nerve palsy in patients as the major symptom for the fabella syndrome.

Takebe reported in 1981 about seven patients suffering from common fibular nerve palsy due to compression from fabella. Three cases were treated by surgery and four cases by conservative methods[16]. Surgery was performed more than 1,5 month after onset of symptoms. All three patients treated with surgical excision of the fabella had preoperative sensory neuropathies and one patient in addition a foot drop, which was originally thought to be the result of a lumbar disc herniation. All patients recovered after surgery with one patient regaining sensory function the day after surgery. Furthermore Takebe reports that ankle dorsiflexion steadily became stronger in the patient with the motor disfunction symptoms. Although some patients from the conservative treatment group had pathological electrophysiological examinations they were not operated. Takebe recommends conservative methods first as he observed sufficient recovery within this group, despite the underlying neuropathies proven on electrophysiological studies[16].

Matsuzaki et al. described in a book chapter nerve compression in 112 patients from constricting fascia or fabella of whom 19 were operated and followed up to an average of 4 years. Pain and dysaesthesia disappeared in all cases[17].

Anatomical studies of the fabella complex and the relation to the common fibular nerve

Müllers description of the anatomical structures adjacent to the fabella and its function are fortified by a group of the following Japanese anatomists[5].

Kawashima et al.[4] studied the fabella and its surrounding structures in 75 knees (150 heads of the gastrocnemius muscle) from 39 Japanese cadavers. They observed 99 fabellae (66.0%) including 44 complete bony fabellae (29.3%). Of these bony fabellae, 43 (97.7%) were located in the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle with its surrounding structures and were positioned only on the lateral condyle of the femur. Furthermore the bony fabellae and the cartilage formed small articular cavity by cooperating with the femoral condyle. Their suggestion is that the fabella may play an important role in stabilizing the fabella complex and the femoral condyle[4].

Another anatomical study was published in 2012 investigating the role of the fabella and the relation to the common fibular nerve.

Their study describes the presence of a bony or cartilage fabella in 86,9% in the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle in a Chinese population[6].

They dissected 61 formalin fixed specimen to record the relationship between the common peroneal nerve & the fabella.

The anatomical relation of the fabella to the CF nerve and the head of the gastrocnemius muscle are investigated in 102 knees of 51 Japanese cadavers by Tabira et al.[1]. The presence of a fabella was observed in 70 knees (68.6%). There was a significant difference in the thickness and the width of the CF nerve adjacent to a fabella than proximal to the region. The increase in width of the CF nerve was greater for knees with fabellae weather bone or cartilage than for knees with absent fabellae. The CF nerve in the bony area directly adjacent to the fabella was noted to be thinner than in the absent fabella group. Furthermore Tabira et al. describe difference in thickness of the CF nerve between the bony and cartilage fabella.

Miscellaneous publications

Erichsen et al.[22] described a case of a 68-year-old woman who underwent total knee replacement surgery on both knees and developed local tenderness and painful clicking in the posterolateral aspect of the knee approximately one year after arthroplasty. The lateral radiograph of the knee revealed a large fabella impinging on the prosthesis. The symptoms and signs were alleviated after a bilateral surgical excision of the fabella.

According to their experience Larson et al.[23] recommended provident excision of the fabella through the anterior approach during total knee replacement due to possible impingement.

Several other reports such as a dislocation of a fabella causing catching problems is described by Frey et al.[24] as well as posttraumatic osteoarthritic changes of the fabella causing problems could be found searching PubMed[25].

Ehara[7] describes in his recent published article in which he reviewed routine MRI of the knee of 653 cases the incidence of osteocartilaginous degeneration localized in the fabellofemoral joint in patients with osteoarthritic changes as rare (1,1%; 7 out of 623 patients mean age 64 years in Japanese population).

Literature reveals one case of a stress fracture in fabella[26]. Rare as well but also described, as accompanying more complex traumatic fracture pattern of the knee joint are fractures of the fabella[27].

Even though the fabella syndrome is seldom, one description of a case could be found, in which the posterolateral knee pain caused by an intra articular osteoid osteoma with the presence of a fabella was mistaken for a painful fabella syndrome[28].

Case reports

Of the two patients presented in outpatients with persisting posterolateral knee pain, both showed the presence of a fabella adjacent to the posterolateral femoral condyle. Standard examination and radiographic imaging such as X-Ray and MRI could exclude other intra- and extra articular pathologies possibly causing pain.

We found the clinical examination very much beneficial to fortify the diagnosis as both patients presented with the typical symptoms such as pain while extending the knee and pain that could be reproduced by direct pressure on the fabella.

In addition and correlating with the literature both reported having pain while doing exercise but having little or no pain during all day activities[8, 9, 12, 21].

Both patients underwent surgical excision of the fabella (patient A unilateral, patient B bilateral) through a dorsolateral incision between the biceps muscle and the iIiotibial band after having had unsatisfying reduction of pain under physiotherapy. The fabellae were resected and closure of layers was performed in standard procedure[29–31]. Other possible causes for posterolateral pain were excluded arthroscopically prior to this.

The results of the different scores are shown in Table 2 showing an improvement in activity and reduction of pain.

Table 2 Results of scores
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Patient A reported to have persistent pain six month after surgery without being back to the same level of sports. Investigations couldn’t reveal any obvious reason for these problems. But significantly important both reported to be finally pain free at 12 months.

Discussion

Since Pancoast stated in 1909 that the presence of the fabella “has apparently little or no interest beyond the mere fact of its occasional occurrence” more than hundred years passed by[32].

Within these years science developed new methods trying to describe and understand the function of several bones of the body – also of the fabella.

In comparison to other anatomical structures, little interest has been paid to this sesamoid bone that is relatively common – and in most cases is a incidental finding on imaging.

This would support the theory of Müller that the fabella does play an important role as a structure where lines of tensile stress interact. Its presence might be explained functioning as a sesamoid structure redirecting tensile forces[5].

In his review of knee MRI of 653 patients of a Japanese population 200 (31%; age range 4–89, median 61) had a fabella. Ehara noted that the pure existence in anatomical studies is higher which might be explained with the higher age of the cadavers (age range 64 – 83, no mean age given)[7].

The increased incidence in Asian population might refer to different habits according to kneeling and squatting and therefore increased tensile forces on the flexor side of the knee. But the reason - if so - remains unclear.

As well the reports existing show an increased incidence in young active athletes without evidence for a specific sport[9, 12, 14, 21]. The occurrence of problems in these patients might be explained with increased tensile forces on the posterior knee as well. But it remains unclear why some develop problems and others don’t.

According to our clinical experience the examination of patients with posterolateral knee pain should include palpation of the posterolateral structures as well as ultrasound examination. If specific pain can be reproduced by applying pressure on the fabella, it would be a clear indication for the fabella being the underlying cause.

Other extra- and intra-articular causes for posterolateral knee pain such as Baker’s cyst, foreign bodies, meniscal tears, localized pigmented villonodular synovitis and osteochondral fragments need to be excluded. With history of trauma ligamentous instability, tibiofibular joint mobility and fracture of fabella should be considered[10, 12, 31, 33].

Injecting local anaesthetic and steroid for diagnostic and therapeutic purpose should be performed as first intervention.

In the majority of the few reported case particularly physically active patients are most likely to develop posterolateral knee pain caused by the fabella[9, 12, 21].

The problems occurring are described to be a quartet of symptoms such as “intermittent posterolateral mechanical knee pain, pain accentuation by full knee extension, localized tenderness with compression of the fabella against its corresponding condylar surface, and immediate and persistent relief with fabellectomy”[34].

This quartet introduced by Weiner in 1977 confirms the indication for surgery after already having performed it due to an eradication of pain following excision. We would therefore postulate that.

Approaching the surgical pathway should include an ultrasound-guided injection of local anaesthetic and steroids for both diagnostics and therapeutics.

Reviewing literature revealed CF nerve palsy in some patients, which could be cured by resecting the fabella[16, 21].

Anatomical dissections of the posterolateral knee show a close topographical relation[16, 17] between the posterior femoral condyle but as well to the CF nerve, which in fact could explain both the posterolateral pain and the nerve palsy.

Furthermore this would indicate that the most favourable therapy of the mechanical compression of other structures would be a decompression fabellectomy.

But there are reports from successful conservative treatment despite patients suffering from nerve palsy[8, 16].

These patients suffering from “hyper compression” pain need to be distinguished carefully from those with mechanical locking such in arthroplasty and those with arthritic changes of the fabella causing pain.

In summary we can declare that little evidence for therapeutic option we recommend and perform exists. In some patients physiotherapy and mobilisation of the fabella seems to reduce nerve palsy and pain, others undergoing fabellectomy seem to suffer residual pain.

Although there is a tendency to believe resecting the fabella would cure the problem, it does not always do. Without knowing the exact function of the fabella and its presence it’s hard to predict outcomes.

In coincidence with younger reports, Lepoutre also reported in 1929 immediate pain relief in his 13-year-old patient after excision of the fabella, which indicated to him that posterolateral pain caused by the presence of a fabella could be eradicated with fabellectomy[35].

And despite development and research, this early observation still forms our therapeutic basis nowadays.

Conclusion

The incidence of the fabella syndrome appears to be higher in Asian population. Presenting complaints are commonly posterolateral knee pain and CF nerve palsy.

There are limited publications about the fabella syndrome, its function and the consequence of its presence or absence is still not clear.

According to literature posterolateral knee pain caused by the presence of a fabella can be eradicated by both non-operative and surgical excision. There however were cases in which this pain persisted postoperatively.

As postoperative success is uncertain the patient should be informed of all treatment options as well as the risks and benefits. Other causes for posterolateral knee pain need to be excluded carefully before suggesting surgery.

Ethics

The Study was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and within appropriate ethical framework.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this Case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor of this journal.