Study of Ultrasound Guided Cortisone Injection Versus Saline Injection and Physical Therapy for Hoffas Fat Pad Impingement in Female Athletes Ages 12 to 18

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate treatment outcomes for refractory anterior knee pain caused by Hoffas Fat Pad Impingement HFPI in young female athletes aged 12 to 18 years. The study focuses on pediatric female athletes with HFPI and compares outcomes of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections into the Hoffas fat pad against standard care, which includes physical therapy with either saline injections or no injection. The research does not assess the safety or effectiveness of the lidocaine-methylprednisolone mixture used in the corticosteroid injection. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups the intervention group receiving an ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection plus physical therapy, or the control group receiving a saline injection with physical therapy. Both treatments are administered at the study visit. The corticosteroid injections are a common procedure at Boston Childrens Hospitals sports medicine clinic, while saline injections serve as a placebo. Patient-reported outcomes such as quality of life, pain interference, symptoms, function, and activity level will be collected at 4 and 8 weeks post-injection. Throughout the study, participants will report on their knee function and pain using tools like the International Knee Documentation Committee IKDC score, Peds Quality of Life Score, and PROMIS Pain Interference Short Form from enrollment through 8 weeks after. Researchers will also track activity levels weekly and any pain flare-ups at 4 weeks post-injection. The total participation duration covers up to 8 weeks following enrollment, with regular assessments to monitor treatment impact and patient well-being.

Hoffa's Fat Pad Impingement (HFPI)