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Vol 76, No 3 (2017)
Original article
Submitted: 2016-08-10
Accepted: 2016-10-19
Published online: 2016-12-20
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Prevalence and distribution of the fabella: a radiographic study in Turkish subjects

O. F. Egerci1, O. Kose, A. Turan, O. F. Kilicaslan, R. Sekerci, N. Keles-Celik2
DOI: 10.5603/FM.a2016.0080
·
Pubmed: 28026849
·
Folia Morphol 2017;76(3):478-483.
Affiliations
  1. Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Elmadag State Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, Türkiye
  2. Anatomy Department, Akdeniz University Medical Faculty, Antalya, Turkey, Türkiye

open access

Vol 76, No 3 (2017)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2016-08-10
Accepted: 2016-10-19
Published online: 2016-12-20

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the plain knee radiographs in Turkish subjects in order to determine the prevalence of the fabella and analyse the differences between age, gender, laterality and its symmetry pattern.

Materials and methods: Bilateral antero-posterior and lateral knee radiographs of 500 patients (250 male and 250 female subjects, 1000 knee radiographs) were randomly selected from the clinical database and retrospectively evaluated. Data on patient age, gender, and knee laterality (right–left) were evaluated from hospital records. The differences between the sesamoid bones at a particular location and the side, sex and age groups were analysed.

Results: The overall prevalence of the fabella (unilateral or bilateral) was 22.8% (114 subjects). The fabella was present unilaterally in 38 (7.6%) subjects, while it was present bilaterally in 76 (15.2%) subjects. The prevalence of the fabella was similar between the body sides. The prevalence of the fabella was also similar between genders (unilateral or bilateral cases) and age groups.

Conclusions: We examined the prevalence, symmetry pattern, age and gender differences in Turkish population. It is the first study performed on Turkish population with the largest sample in current literature. Prevalence of fabella is found to be 22.8% which is quite similar with other Caucasian ethnic populations.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the plain knee radiographs in Turkish subjects in order to determine the prevalence of the fabella and analyse the differences between age, gender, laterality and its symmetry pattern.

Materials and methods: Bilateral antero-posterior and lateral knee radiographs of 500 patients (250 male and 250 female subjects, 1000 knee radiographs) were randomly selected from the clinical database and retrospectively evaluated. Data on patient age, gender, and knee laterality (right–left) were evaluated from hospital records. The differences between the sesamoid bones at a particular location and the side, sex and age groups were analysed.

Results: The overall prevalence of the fabella (unilateral or bilateral) was 22.8% (114 subjects). The fabella was present unilaterally in 38 (7.6%) subjects, while it was present bilaterally in 76 (15.2%) subjects. The prevalence of the fabella was similar between the body sides. The prevalence of the fabella was also similar between genders (unilateral or bilateral cases) and age groups.

Conclusions: We examined the prevalence, symmetry pattern, age and gender differences in Turkish population. It is the first study performed on Turkish population with the largest sample in current literature. Prevalence of fabella is found to be 22.8% which is quite similar with other Caucasian ethnic populations.

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Keywords

fabella, sesamum genu superius laterale, sesamoid bone, posterolateral knee pain, radiography

About this article
Title

Prevalence and distribution of the fabella: a radiographic study in Turkish subjects

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 76, No 3 (2017)

Article type

Original article

Pages

478-483

Published online

2016-12-20

Page views

2400

Article views/downloads

2421

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2016.0080

Pubmed

28026849

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2017;76(3):478-483.

Keywords

fabella
sesamum genu superius laterale
sesamoid bone
posterolateral knee pain
radiography

Authors

O. F. Egerci
O. Kose
A. Turan
O. F. Kilicaslan
R. Sekerci
N. Keles-Celik

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