Wound and InjuriesPAINFATNCT07480447
Comparison of Pain Reduction in Painful Chronic Wounds With and Without Fat Grafting
A study testing Autologous Fat Grafting and Standard Wound Care in people with Wound and Injuries and Pain, run by King Edward Medical University.
Trial summary
Chronic wounds, such as those caused by diabetes, burns, or poor blood circulation, often heal slowly and can cause significant pain, affecting daily life and quality of life. This study aims to evaluate whether autologous fat grafting-a procedure in which a patient's own fat tissue is injected into the wound-can… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Wound and Injuries, Pain
- What is being tested?
- Autologous Fat Grafting and Standard Wound Care
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 62 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 May 2026to 1 Nov 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- • 3 months old chronic wound (Venous arterial, traumatic, burn and diabetic) having mean VAS Pain score >3 at rest
- Wound area between 4 cm² to 10 cm²
- Aged 20-60 years.
- Both male and female
Who cannot join
- • Active wound infection.
- Wounds due to malignancy or irradiation.
- Pregnant or lactating females
- Smokers
About this study
Official title: Comparison of Pain Reduction in Chronic Wounds Treated With and Without Autologous Fat Grafting: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Chronic wounds, such as those caused by diabetes, burns, or poor blood circulation, often heal slowly and can cause significant pain, affecting daily life and quality of life. This study aims to evaluate whether autologous fat grafting-a procedure in which a patient's own fat tissue is injected into the wound-can reduce pain and improve healing in chronic wounds compared to standard care without fat grafting.
We will enroll 62 adult patients with chronic wounds lasting more than 3 months. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: one group will receive fat grafting along with standard wound care, and the other group will receive standard wound care alone. Pain will be measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) over 21 days after treatment. Wound healing and any complications will also be monitored.
The results of this study will help determine if autologous fat grafting is an effective and safe method to reduce pain and improve recovery in patients with chronic wounds.
Read the detailed description
Chronic wounds are a common problem, particularly in patients with diabetes, vascular diseases, or post-traumatic injuries, and are associated with significant pain, delayed healing, and increased healthcare costs. Pain in chronic wounds can be both background and procedural, affecting quality of life and sometimes leading to psychosocial complications. Current treatments include surgical and non-surgical interventions, such as tulle dressings, interactive dressings, skin substitutes, and negative pressure wound therapy. However, these approaches may be costly, require frequent dressing changes, or have limited availability, particularly in lower-middle-income countries.
Autologous fat grafting has emerged as a promising technique to promote wound healing due to the high content of stem cells and growth factors in adipose tissue. Recent studies suggest that fat grafting not only accelerates tissue regeneration but may also reduce pain associated with chronic wounds. Limited data exist regarding its efficacy specifically for pain reduction in chronic wounds.
This randomized controlled trial will enroll 62 adult patients (ages 20-60) with chronic wounds persisting for more than 3 months and with a baseline mean VAS pain score >3. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group A (fat grafting plus standard wound care) or Group B (standard wound care alone). Wound cleansing will be performed in both groups using povidone-iodine. In Group A, autologous fat will be harvested using the Coleman technique, processed into nano-fat through sequential filtering and centrifugation, and injected into the wound bed and margins. In Group B, wounds will be managed with standard tulle gauze dressings. Dressings in both groups will be changed every 48-72 hours.
Pain will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale three times daily for 21 days, and the mean daily pain score will be calculated. Wound healing percentage, wound size, and any complications, including infection, will be documented. Rescue analgesia (IV Toradol 0.5 mg/kg) will be provided if the VAS score exceeds 3. Data will be analyzed using SPSS v26, with appropriate statistical tests applied to compare pain reduction and wound healing between groups.
The study aims to provide evidence on the effectiveness and safety of autologous fat grafting for reducing pain and improving outcomes in patients with chronic wounds, potentially informing future clinical practice and management strategies for this patient population.
- Conditions
- Wound and Injuries, Pain
- Being tested
- Autologous Fat Grafting, Standard Wound Care
- Keywords
- Chronic Wounds, Pain Reduction, Nanofat Grafting, Autologous fat grafting
- Medical subject headings
- Wounds and Injuries, Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Autologous Fat GraftingProcedure or surgery
Also called Nano-Fat Injection, Autologous Adipose Tissue Grafting
Participants will receive autologous fat grafting in addition to standard wound care. Fat will be harvested from the patient's thigh using the Coleman technique, processed into nano-fat through sequential filtering and centrifugation, and injected into the wound bed and margins. The injection volume is approximately 0.4 cc per cm² along wound edges and 0.6 cc per cm² within the wound bed. After injection, wounds will be dressed with tulle gauze, with dressing changes every 48-72 hours. Pain will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) three times daily for 21 days. Wound size, healing percentage, and complications, including infection, will also be monitored. Rescue analgesia (IV Toradol 0.5 mg/kg) will be administered if VAS > 3.
Standard Wound CareProcedure or surgery
Participants will receive standard wound care without fat grafting. Wounds will be cleaned with povidone-iodine and dressed with tulle gauze and a secondary cotton gauze layer. Dressing changes will occur every 48-72 hours. Pain will be assessed using the VAS three times daily for 21 days. Wound size, healing percentage, and complications, including infection, will also be monitored. Rescue analgesia (IV Toradol 0.5 mg/kg) will be administered if VAS >3.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Fat Grafting Plus Standard Wound Care | Experimental | Participants in this arm will receive autologous fat grafting in addition to standard wound care. Fat will be harvested from the patient's thigh using the Coleman technique, processed into nano-fat through sequential filtering and centrifugation, and injected into the wound bed and margins. The typical volume is approximately 0.4 cc per cm² along wound edges and 0.6 cc per cm² within the wound bed. Wounds will be dressed with tulle gauze, with dressings changed every 48-72 hours. Pain, wound size, and wound healing will be monitored for 21 days, with rescue analgesia provided if VAS > 3. Receives: Procedure: Autologous Fat Grafting |
| Standard Wound Care Alone | Active comparator | Participants in this arm will receive standard wound care alone without fat grafting. Wounds will be cleaned with povidone-iodine and dressed with tulle gauze and cotton gauze layers. Dressings will be changed every 48-72 hours. Pain, wound size, and wound healing will be monitored for 21 days, with rescue analgesia provided if VAS >3. Receives: Procedure: Standard Wound Care |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Reduction in Mean Pain Score in Patients With Chronic Wounds
Pain will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). The mean pain score will be calculated for each patient three times daily (8:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 8:00 pm) over the 21-day post-treatment period. The primary outcome is the change in mean VAS pain score from baseline to post-treatment in patients receiving autologous fat grafting compared to those receiving standard wound care.
Measured: 21 days post-treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Mar 2026
- Study start1 May 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Wound and InjuriesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 62 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- King Edward Medical University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Farrukh Aslam, King Edward Medical University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07480447
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 21/RC/KEMU
- Other IDs
- 21/RC/KEMU
- Acronym
- PAINFAT
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 18 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Pain Reduction in Chronic Wounds Treated With and Without Autologous Fat Grafting: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07480447
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PAINFAT / 21/RC/KEMU
- Conditions
- Wound and Injuries, Pain
- Keywords
- Chronic Wounds, Pain Reduction, Nanofat Grafting, Autologous fat grafting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 62 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- King Edward Medical UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 May 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Chronic wounds, such as those caused by diabetes, burns, or poor blood circulation, often heal slowly and can cause significant pain, affecting daily life and quality of life. This study aims to evaluate whether autologous fat grafting-a procedure in which a patient's own fat tissue is injected into the wound-can reduce pain and improve healing in chronic wounds compared to standard care without fat grafting.
We will enroll 62 adult patients with chronic wounds lasting more than 3 months. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: one group will receive fat grafting along with standard wound care, and the other group will receive standard wound care alone. Pain will be measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) over 21 days after treatment. Wound healing and any complications will also be monitored.
The results of this study will help determine if autologous fat grafting is an effective and safe method to reduce pain and improve recovery in patients with chronic wounds.
Detailed description
Chronic wounds are a common problem, particularly in patients with diabetes, vascular diseases, or post-traumatic injuries, and are associated with significant pain, delayed healing, and increased healthcare costs. Pain in chronic wounds can be both background and procedural, affecting quality of life and sometimes leading to psychosocial complications. Current treatments include surgical and non-surgical interventions, such as tulle dressings, interactive dressings, skin substitutes, and negative pressure wound therapy. However, these approaches may be costly, require frequent dressing changes, or have limited availability, particularly in lower-middle-income countries.
Autologous fat grafting has emerged as a promising technique to promote wound healing due to the high content of stem cells and growth factors in adipose tissue. Recent studies suggest that fat grafting not only accelerates tissue regeneration but may also reduce pain associated with chronic wounds. Limited data exist regarding its efficacy specifically for pain reduction in chronic wounds.
This randomized controlled trial will enroll 62 adult patients (ages 20-60) with chronic wounds persisting for more than 3 months and with a baseline mean VAS pain score >3. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group A (fat grafting plus standard wound care) or Group B (standard wound care alone). Wound cleansing will be performed in both groups using povidone-iodine. In Group A, autologous fat will be harvested using the Coleman technique, processed into nano-fat through sequential filtering and centrifugation, and injected into the wound bed and margins. In Group B, wounds will be managed with standard tulle gauze dressings. Dressings in both groups will be changed every 48-72 hours.
Pain will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale three times daily for 21 days, and the mean daily pain score will be calculated. Wound healing percentage, wound size, and any complications, including infection, will be documented. Rescue analgesia (IV Toradol 0.5 mg/kg) will be provided if the VAS score exceeds 3. Data will be analyzed using SPSS v26, with appropriate statistical tests applied to compare pain reduction and wound healing between groups.
The study aims to provide evidence on the effectiveness and safety of autologous fat grafting for reducing pain and improving outcomes in patients with chronic wounds, potentially informing future clinical practice and management strategies for this patient population.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Fat Grafting Plus Standard Wound Care | Experimental | Procedure: Autologous Fat GraftingParticipants in this arm will receive autologous fat grafting in addition to standard wound care. Fat will be harvested from the patient's thigh using the Coleman technique, processed into nano-fat through sequential filtering and centrifugation, and injected into the wound bed and margins. The typical volume is approximately 0.4 cc per cm² along wound edges and 0.6 cc per cm² within the wound bed. Wounds will be dressed with tulle gauze, with dressings changed every 48-72 hours. Pain, wound size, and wound healing will be monitored for 21 days, with rescue analgesia provided if VAS > 3. |
| Standard Wound Care Alone | Active comparator | Procedure: Standard Wound CareParticipants in this arm will receive standard wound care alone without fat grafting. Wounds will be cleaned with povidone-iodine and dressed with tulle gauze and cotton gauze layers. Dressings will be changed every 48-72 hours. Pain, wound size, and wound healing will be monitored for 21 days, with rescue analgesia provided if VAS >3. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- • 3 months old chronic wound (Venous arterial, traumatic, burn and diabetic) having mean VAS Pain score >3 at rest
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- • Active wound infection.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Autologous Fat GraftingAlso: Nano-Fat Injection, Autologous Adipose Tissue GraftingParticipants will receive autologous fat grafting in addition to standard wound care. Fat will be harvested from the patient's thigh using the Coleman technique, processed into nano-fat through sequential filtering and centrifugation, and injected into the wound bed and margins. The injection volume is approximately 0.4 cc per cm² along wound edges and 0.6 cc per cm² within the wound bed. After injection, wounds will be dressed with tulle gauze, with dressing changes every 48-72 hours. Pain will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) three times daily for 21 days. Wound size, healing percentage, and complications, including infection, will also be monitored. Rescue analgesia (IV Toradol 0.5 mg/kg) will be administered if VAS > 3. | Procedure or surgery | Fat Grafting Plus Standard Wound Care |
| Standard Wound CareParticipants will receive standard wound care without fat grafting. Wounds will be cleaned with povidone-iodine and dressed with tulle gauze and a secondary cotton gauze layer. Dressing changes will occur every 48-72 hours. Pain will be assessed using the VAS three times daily for 21 days. Wound size, healing percentage, and complications, including infection, will also be monitored. Rescue analgesia (IV Toradol 0.5 mg/kg) will be administered if VAS >3. | Procedure or surgery | Standard Wound Care Alone |
Primary outcome
Reduction in Mean Pain Score in Patients With Chronic Wounds
Time frame: 21 days post-treatment
Pain will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). The mean pain score will be calculated for each patient three times daily (8:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 8:00 pm) over the 21-day post-treatment period. The primary outcome is the change in mean VAS pain score from baseline to post-treatment in patients receiving autologous fat grafting compared to those receiving standard wound care.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Mar 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Autologous Fat Grafting and Standard Wound Care in people with Wound and Injuries and Pain, run by King Edward Medical University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Reduction in Mean Pain Score in Patients With Chronic Wounds (time frame: 21 days post-treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Mar 2026.