Fat Grafting for Chronic Tendinopathy
(MFAT Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a one-time injection of a person's own concentrated fat (micro-fragmented adipose tissue, or MFAT) can reduce pain and improve function in adults (ages 18-80) with chronic tendinopathy - tendon pain lasting more than 3 months (for example, in the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, or Achilles) - that has not improved with usual treatments such as physical therapy, cortisone shots, or platelet-rich plasma.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does injecting a person's own concentrated fat into a painful tendon reduce tendon pain?
* Does it improve how well the tendon works, how long does any improvement last, and is the procedure safe?
This is a single-group study, so there is no separate comparison group; each participant's pain, function, and ultrasound results after treatment are compared with their own measurements taken before treatment.
Participants will:
* Have a one-time procedure in which a small amount of fat is removed from the abdomen by liposuction (under local numbing), concentrated, and injected into the painful tendon using ultrasound guidance.
* Complete short pain and function questionnaires and have ultrasound imaging of the tendon at study visits.
* Be followed for about 12 months, with a phone or video check-in 3-7 days after the procedure, a 2-week skin check of the fat-removal site, and visits at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months.
Who Is on the Research Team?
Jaspal Singh, MD
Principal Investigator
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine | Weill Cornell Medicine
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for adults aged 18-80 who have had tendon pain (like tennis elbow or tendinitis) for over 3 months that hasn't improved with standard treatments such as physical therapy, cortisone shots, or platelet-rich plasma.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Micro-Fragmented Adipose Tissue (MFAT) injection
Trial Overview
Researchers are testing if a one-time injection of a person's own concentrated fat (taken from their abdomen and processed) into the painful tendon can reduce pain and improve function. There is no comparison group; each person serves as their own control.
How Is the Trial Designed?
1
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
All participants receive a single, one-time autologous fat grafting procedure (no comparison group). A small volume of abdominal fat (5-15 cc) is harvested by manual liposuction under local anesthesia and concentrated by gentle manual rolling on non-adherent (Telfa) dressings to create micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT). Under ultrasound guidance, the target tendon undergoes percutaneous tenotomy (needle fenestration) to disrupt scar tissue, followed by intratendinous injection of 1-3 cc of concentrated MFAT. Participants are then followed for 12 months with patient-reported pain and function questionnaires and ultrasound imaging. This is a single-arm, open-label study in which each participant serves as their own baseline control.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Lead Sponsor
The Plastic Surgery Foundation
Collaborator
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