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Autologous Fat Grafting for the Treatment of Chronic Tendinopathy

Who can join

Ages 18 to 80 · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age 18-80 years.
2. Tendinopathy at any tendon location (e.g., rotator cuff/supraspinatus, lateral epicondyle, gluteal/hip, Achilles, patellar).
3. Confirmed tendon pathology: pain at the tendon site for \> 3 months AND pathology confirmed on ultrasound.
4. Failure of conservative treatment (e.g., activity modification, physical therapy, NSAIDs, corticosteroid injection, and/or PRP) for at least 6 weeks.
5. Able to provide informed consent and complete questionnaires in English.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Full-thickness tendon tear.
2. Prior surgery at the target tendon site.
3. Injection or other intervention at the target tendon site within the prior 6 months.
4. Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
5. Active local or systemic infection, bleeding diathesis or anticoagulation precluding the procedure, or other condition that in the investigator's judgment makes participation unsafe.
6. Moderate-to-high-grade arthritis in the adjacent joint.

About the study

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a one-time injection of a person's own processed fat tissue (autologous lipoaspirate), a procedure called Adipose Stem/Stromal Cells for Enthesis/Tendon Therapy (ASSET), 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.

What is being tested

• Adipose Stem/Stromal Cells for Enthesis/Tendon Therapy (ASSET) Injection (procedure)

Sponsor: Weill Medical College of Cornell University · Participants: 40 · Started: Oct 31, 2026

Contact the study team

• Terrence Green · Phone: (212) 746-9224

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07748793

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Tendinitis

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.