Morphological analysis of the fabella.

Abstract

There is variable number of sesamoid bones in the human body; one of them is fabella, located in the tendon of the gastrocnemius muscle. This study was conducted to examine the frequency of occurrence of fabella in the Macedonian population and to discuss the clinical implications of this bone. Over a time span of six months, 53 patients (38 males and 15 females, age range 19-60 years) were examined with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The reports were reviewed for the presence of fabella. In five (9.43%) patients of 53 analyzed reports, fabella was found in the lateral tendon of gastrocnemius muscle. Fabella is present in the Macedonian population and we should think of this sesamoid bone while performing diagnostic and surgical procedures.