Fabella pain síndrome
Abstract
Introduction: The fabella is an inconstant sesamoid bone located on the posterolateral aspect of the knee, it is sometimes involved in the presence of pain and acroparesthetic disorders.
Objective: Update and provide information on the most important aspects of the fabella pain syndrome.
Methods: The search and analysis of the information was carried out over a period of 91 days (September 1 to November 30, 2024) and the following words were used: Fabella pain syndrome, fabella AND posterolateral knee pain, fabella, fabellectomy, arthroscopy. Based on the information obtained, a bibliographic review of a total of 171 articles published in the databases PubMed, Hinari, SciELO, ResearchGate, Ebsco, Scopus, Medscape and Medline were carried out using the EndNote search manager and reference manager. They used 31 selected quotes to carry out the review, with 30 of them coming from the last five years.
Results: Reference is made to the anatomy of the area, the differences between fabela and ciamela and the static and dynamic stabilizers. The clinical, imaging and electromyographic aspects are addressed. The treatment involves describing conservative or surgical modalities and their main indications, with a special emphasis on arthroscopic surgery.
Conclusions: The fabella pain syndrome is characterized by pain in the posterolateral aspect of the knee that increases with physical activity, especially extension. Imaging methods are essential for the diagnosis of this entity. Treatment modalities can be conservative or surgical, the last one consists of fabela resection and peroneal nerve decompression.
DeCS:KNEE/diagnosis; ARTHROSCOPY; MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN; RISK FACTORS; REVIEW.
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References
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22 julio 2025