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mFat therapy delivers adipose-derived stem cells to the affected foot joints to manage arthritis, reduce inflammation, and support cartilage preservation. Foot joint degeneration affects every step you take, and surgical options are often limited to fusion, which eliminates joint movement. Biological treatment with mFat offers a way to manage symptoms and maintain function in the foot joints that matter most for daily mobility.
Reviewed byProf Paul Lee MBBch, FRCS (Tr & Orth), PhDLast reviewed 1 May 2026
The foot contains over 30 joints, several of which are essential for normal gait. When arthritis develops in the big toe or midfoot, the standard surgical endpoint is joint fusion, which relieves pain but permanently removes movement.
By treating foot joint degeneration earlier with mFat, patients can maintain mobility and activity levels while the biological response works to stabilise the joint environment.
mFat therapy for the foot follows the same single-session protocol as other joints. The processed adipose tissue is injected directly into the affected joint under image guidance for precise delivery.
Your specialist will assess which foot joints would benefit most and whether mFat alone or a combined approach with other treatments is appropriate.
You may have more options than you think
At London Cartilage Clinic we follow a structured clinical framework across four areas of treatment. Before recommending a single procedure, we assess which combination of approaches gives you the best outcome.
Protect what you have. Slow degeneration and manage symptoms.
Fix specific damage. Torn tissue, unstable joints, structural problems.
Rebuild lost tissue. Biological treatments that stimulate new growth.
When other options are exhausted. Joint replacement as a last resort.
Explore the full range of treatments available for your joint. Each hub page shows every option we offer, organised by clinical approach.
mFat therapy can be delivered to the first metatarsophalangeal joint (big toe), the midfoot joints (tarsometatarsal), and the subtalar joint. These are the joints most commonly affected by arthritis and degeneration in the foot.
mFat therapy can help manage the pain and stiffness of hallux rigidus by reducing inflammation and supporting the remaining cartilage. It is particularly suited to patients with early to moderate disease who want to avoid or delay fusion surgery (arthrodesis).
The foot joints are loaded with every step. Arthritis in these joints causes pain with walking, stiffness when getting up, and difficulty wearing certain footwear. Even moderate foot joint degeneration can significantly limit mobility and overall quality of life.
Most patients can walk normally within a few days, though some tenderness at the injection site and the fat harvest site is common for one to two weeks. Supportive footwear is recommended during the initial recovery period. Improvement develops gradually over the following weeks.
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Clinical updates, cartilage treatment guidance, and recovery-focused articles from our specialist team.
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