Arthroscopy-Assisted Fabella Excision: Surgical Technique

The fabella is an anatomic variant not seen in all individuals and can potentially be a source of chronic knee pain due to chondromalacia, osteoarthritis, fractures, or biomechanical pressure against the lateral femoral condyle. It is situated intra-articular, close to the lateral femoral condyle, the lateral gastrocnemius head tendon, and the fabellofibular ligament. Given its rarity, the diagnosis of a symptomatic fabella is often overlooked when evaluating patients with persistent posterolateral knee pain. However, this diagnosis should always be considered, especially in high-performance runners, bikers, and triathletes. Although nonoperative management can potentially resolve symptoms associated with this condition, fabella excision via arthroscopically assisted surgery is a reliable and safe alternative to treat patients who do not benefit from nonsurgical treatment. We present our technique detailing fabella excision for treatment of posterolateral knee pain, which includes an arthroscopic evaluation of the fabella to assess damage to the femoral condyle and minimize over-resection and potential damage to surrounding structures.