Clinical tests for Hoffa's (infrapatellar) fat pad impingement
Official title: Diagnostic Validity of Infrapatellar Fat Pad Impingement Syndrome: Performance of Clinical Tests Compared to MRI Imaging
Run by Hopitaux de Saint-Maurice · NCT06971601 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether a set of five simple clinical provocation tests can detect Hoffa's (infrapatellar) fat pad impingement in adults with anterior knee pain, using MRI as the reference.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Hopitaux de Saint-Maurice Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Saint-Maurice) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 17, 2025 |
| Main results expected | October 28, 2025 |
| Study ends | December 2026 |
| Registry record updated | September 15, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06971601 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18–70 with anterior knee pain rated ≥3/10 on most days over the past month and able to have a knee MRI within 15 days of the clinical exam are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with recent corticosteroid injection (within 12 months), contraindications to MRI, known fibromyalgia or neurological disorders, or prior hip/lumbar surgery may not benefit from these specific diagnostic tests.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is an observational diagnostic study enrolling 50 adults aged 18–70 with anterior knee pain of at least 3/10. Participants complete a secure online questionnaire about symptoms and pain, plus validated outcome scales including the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS), and undergo a standardized clinical examination consisting of five provocation tests. Each participant will have knee MRI performed within 15 days of the clinical exam, and the diagnostic accuracy of the clinical test cluster will be compared to MRI findings. The primary hypothesis is that a composite score from the five tests will achieve an area under the ROC curve of at least 0.80; secondary analyses will explore clinical and subjective features associated with MRI-confirmed infrapatellar fat pad involvement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians could use a validated set of bedside tests to more quickly identify Hoffa's fat pad impingement and reduce dependence on MRI for initial diagnosis.
How similar studies have gone: MRI remains the diagnostic gold standard and prior validation of standardized clinical provocation clusters for Hoffa's fat pad impingement is limited, so this approach is only partially studied to date.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 70 years * Presence of anterior knee pain with an intensity of ≥3/10 on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), on most days over the past month * MRI of the knee performed within a maximum of 15 days before or after the clinical examination. Exclusion Criteria: * History of corticosteroid injection treatment within the previous 12 months; * Known allergy or skin intolerance to medical adhesives or rigid tape; * History of hip or lumbar spine surgery; * History of neurological disorders or a diagnosis of fibromyalgia; * Contraindication to MRI (e.g., metallic foreign body, incompatible implantable device)
Where it's running
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Hôpitaux Paris Est Val-de-Marne - Service de rééducation orthopédique et traumatologie
Saint-Maurice, France Recruiting
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.