Fabella Syndrome Following Arthroscopic Lateral Meniscectomy with Serial Imaging Findings: A Case Report.
Shio Hirakata, Masaya Hayashi, Hideya Yoshimura
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 54-year-old woman experienced persistent posterolateral knee pain one year after undergoing arthroscopic lateral meniscectomy. Serial MRI revealed progressive enlargement of the fabella, which was confirmed during arthroscopy as causing impingement with the lateral femoral condyle. Following an all-arthroscopic fabellectomy, the patient reported immediate relief of symptoms, with no recurrence noted at the two-year follow-up.
What made this case unusual
The case illustrates the progressive hypertrophy of the fabella following meniscectomy, leading to fabella syndrome, which is not commonly recognized in this context.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider fabella syndrome in patients with ongoing posterolateral knee pain after meniscectomy, as it may be related to altered load distribution.
Why it matters
Understanding the potential for fabellar hypertrophy post-meniscectomy can aid in the diagnosis and management of persistent knee pain in similar patients.