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Table 1 Details derived from six case reports found through PubMed research

From: The fabella syndrome - a rare cause of posterolateral knee pain: a review of the literature and two case reports

 

Weiner, D.S. 1982 [[27]]

Kuur, E. 1986 [[12]]

Zipple, J.2003 [[31]]

Robertson, A. 2004 [[22]]

Dannawi, Z. 2007 [[2]]

Zenteno, B. 2010 [[30]]

(n) number of patients & (morphology of fabella)

16 (9 bony & 2 cartilaginous, 5 thickened fibres of gastrocnemius muscle

1

1 (bony)

1 (bony)

2 (bony)

1 (bony)

Symptoms described in the text

Pain in extension of the knee, could be reproduced by direct pressure

3-4 year history of intermittent pain and slight swelling, painful knee extension, pain started after special intensive training

Chief complaint: left posterolateral pain, weakness and foot drop symptoms

2 month history of pain and swelling in posterolateral region of the right knee associated with a clicking sensation symptoms worse while squatting, stair ascent & descent

Case 1: sharp intermittent pain posterolateral knee, exacerbated & catching in extension case 2: pain & swelling posterolateral knee

Pain while running more than 2 km; posterolateral pain

Level of activity

Not described

Active soccer player

Lifetime habit of routine engagement in vigorous exercise 5–6 times per week

65 years old, no description about sports

58 year old women & 45 year old man, not described

High performance runner

(n) non-surgical treatment

Injections of steroid, immobilization with splinting & casting, restriction of activity, analgesics

Temporary restriction of activities, injection of steroid and anti-inflam- matory medication

1; mobilisation of the pisiform bone in the wrist

1; ultrasound guided injection of cortisone & local anaesthetic

Case 1: physical therapy for 1 year with remaining pain case 2: NSAID, no injection

Multiple conservative treatment which failed; ozone therapy, physiotherapy, ultrasound

(n) surgery

11

1

No

No

2

1

Follow up

0,5 y – 7 y

2,5 years

16 month

12 month

12 & 18 month

11 month

Symptoms & problems after procedure

12 pain free (surgical treatment); 1 minimal periodic pain, 2 periodic pain, 1 significant periodic pain (non surgical treatment); 5, injections of steroid, immobilization with splinting & casting,restriction of activity, analgesics

Work & sports without pain

None

No symptoms 12 month after intervention

Case 1: pain subsided, pain free 12 month after procedure case 2: no pain

None

Activity after surgery

No report

No report

Full 0 (0–10)

No report

No report

High, international level competitions, participant in Olympic games 2008 11 month after surgery

Nerve palsy

-

 

-

No report

 

-