Shelf syndrome of the knee in elderly people: a report of three cases.

Shelf syndrome occurs mainly in younger people (particularly athletes) and rarely in elderly people. We report on 3 elderly patients with a medial synovial plica causing severe pain and locked knees. They had had no symptoms in their early or middle life. After removal of the shelf, the symptoms improved considerably. Although shelf syndrome is rare in the elderly, it should be suspected whenever severe pain and a locked knee are present.