The lateral fat pad of the knee occupies the posterolateral corner of the joint space, adjacent to the popliteus tendon and lateral joint capsule. It is distinct from Hoffa's infrapatellar fat pad and may be impinged in posterolateral corner injuries and lateral compartment synovitis.
Lateral fat pad impingement produces posterolateral knee pain aggravated by full extension, a less common but recognised cause of lateral knee pain. MRI demonstrates oedema in the lateral fat pad. It may be confused with popliteus tendon pathology or lateral meniscal posterior horn tears by clinical examination alone. Arthroscopic assessment and debridement of the lateral fat pad resolves impingement symptoms.
Impingement of the lateral knee fat pad in the posterolateral joint space producing lateral knee pain with full extension, identified by MRI and managed by arthroscopic fat pad trimming.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
