“Fat Grafting for Pedal Fat Pad Atrophy in a 2-Year, Prospective, Randomized Cross-over, Single-Center Clinical Trial”

Background: By age 60, 30% of Americans suffer from fat pad atrophy of the foot. Forefoot fat pad atrophy results from long-term aggressive activity, genetics dictating foot type, multiple forefoot steroid injections, surgery and foot trauma. Methods: We present data from a two-year, prospective, randomized cross-over study performed to assess pain and disability indexes, fat pad thickness, forces and pressures of stance and gait. Group 1 underwent fat grafting with two years of follow-up, while Group 2 underwent conservative management for 1 year, then received fat grafting with 1 year of follow-up. Results: 18 subjects (14 female, 4 male) comprised Group 1. 13 subjects (9 female, 4 male) comprised Group 2. Group 1 reported the worst pain at baseline, Group 2 experienced the worst pain at 6, 12-month Standard of Care (SOC) visits; pain for both groups immediately improved following fat grafting and lasted through study follow up (p