Knee surgery debate: to keep or remove the fat pad?
NCT ID NCT03763448
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether preserving or removing the infrapatellar fat pad (a small pad of fat in the knee) during total knee replacement leads to better outcomes for people with knee osteoarthritis. Over 370 participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Researchers measured pain, function, and quality of life up to one year after surgery to see which approach worked best.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If keeping the fat pad proves better, it could become the standard approach in knee replacement surgery, improving patient recovery and quality of life.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed study, but the results may not apply to all patients or surgeons. The difference between groups might be small or not clinically meaningful.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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377 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2018
- Finished
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May 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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40 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis by X-ray plain film (Kellgren-Lawrence score of ≥ 2) * The need for TKA was confirmed after evaluation by the orthopedic surgeon * One week before surgery, knee pain 100mm pain visual analogue scale score was greater than 20mm * Understanding of the study requirements and willing to participate in this study Exclusion Criteria: * Rheumatoid arthritis,psoriatic arthritis,lupus,malignant tumor * Requiring contralateral TKA within one year * The visual analogue score of 100mm of knee pain before operation was less than 20mm * Having a possible or planned pregnancy * With poor compliance * Suffering from somatic disease, psychiatric or cognitive disorders, neurological disorders that will compromise the safety, compliance, consent, participation, follow-up and the interpretation of the results * Severe knee valgus * Contraindications with TKA or MRI
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Zhujiang Hospital
Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510285, China
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