Skip to main content
Log in

Potentially symptomatic fabella: MR imaging review

  • Review
  • Published:
Japanese Journal of Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fabella, a small ossicle at the posterolateral aspect of the knee, is potentially a source of knee pain. Although fabella syndrome is a rare cause of knee symptoms in young adults, osteocartilaginous degeneration prominent in the fabellofemoral joint on magnetic resonance imaging may be commonly seen in elderly patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Duncan W, Dahm DL. Clinical anatomy of the fabella. Clin Anat. 2003;16:448–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Minowa T, Murakami G, Kura H, Suzuki D, Han S-H, Yamashita T. Does the fabella contribute to the reinforcement of the posterolateral corner of the knee by inducing the development of associated ligament. J Orthop Sci. 2004;9:59–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kawashima T, Takeishi H, Yoshitomi S, Ito M, Sasaki H. Anatomical study of the fabella, fabellar complex and clinical implications. Surg Radiol Anat. 2007;29:611–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Weiner D, MacNab I, Turner M. The fabella syndrome. Clin Orthop Rel Res. 1977;126:213–5.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Weiner DS, MacNab I. The “fabella syndrome”: an update. J Pediatr Orthop. 1982;2:405–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kuur E. Painful fabella. A case report with review of the literature. Acta Orthop Scand. 1986;57:453–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Altman R, Ash E, Bloch D, Bole G, Borenstein D, Brandt K, et al. Development of criteria for the classification and reporting of osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1986;29:1039–49.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Pritchett JW. The incidence of fabellae in osteoarthritis of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg. 1984;66A:1379–80.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Zanetti M, Bruder E, Romero J, Hodler J. Bone marrow edema pattern in osteoarthritic knees: Correlation between MR imaging and histologic findings. Radiology. 2000;215:835–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Taljanovic MS, Graham AR, Benjamin JB, Gmitro AF, Krupinski EA, Schwartz SA, et al. Bone marrow edema pattern in advanced hip osteoarthritis: quantitative assessment with magnetic resonance imaging and correlation with clinical examination, radiographic findings and histopathology. Skeletal Radiol. 2008;37:423–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Saadat E, Jobke B, Chu B, Lu Y, Cheng J, Li X, et al. Diagnostic performance of in vivo 3-T MRI for articular cartilage abnormalities in human osteoarthritic knees using histology as standard of reference. Eur Radiol. 2008;18:2292–302.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Dashefsky JH. Fracture of the fabella: a case report. J Bone Joint Surg. 1977;59A:698.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Heideman GM, Baynes KE, Mautz AP, Dubois MS, Roberts JW. Fabella fracture with CT imaging: a case report. Emerg Radiol. 2011;18:357–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Theodorou SJ, Theodorou DJ, Resnick D. Painful stress fracture of the fabella in patients with total knee arthroplasty. Am J Roentgenol. 2005;185:1141–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Tabira Y, Saga T, Takahashi N, Watanabe K, Nakamura N, Yamaki K. Influence of a fabella in the gastrocnemius muscle on the common fibular nerve in Japanese subjects. Clin Anat 2012 Aug 29 [Epub].

Download references

Conflict on interest

The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shigeru Ehara.

About this article

Cite this article

Ehara, S. Potentially symptomatic fabella: MR imaging review. Jpn J Radiol 32, 1–5 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-013-0253-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-013-0253-1

Keywords

Navigation