Open Excision of a Painful Fabella

Fabella syndrome is a relatively rare but potentially debilitating condition that causes posterolateral knee pain and swelling, as well as issues with flexion and/or extension of the knee. Irritation, pain, and cartilage damage ensue as the capsule and fabella make contact with the posterior lateral femoral condyle. This condition should be considered in cases of posterolateral knee pain in which other more common pathologies are not readily identified and when patients present with a positive finding of tenderness on examination at the fabella. Initial treatment consists of activity modification and rest, physical therapy, and potentially cortisone injections. When these fail, surgical excision of the fabella should be considered. Surgery in the posterolateral knee, however, requires careful consideration of the immediate and surrounding anatomic structures and arthroscopy, which can be technically challenging. The objective of this technical note is to describe our open technique for symptomatic fabella excision that is easily reproducible, with pearls to minimize risk to the posterolateral structures of the knee.