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Patient with hand and finger joint pain

mFat Therapy for the Hand

From £5,800
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Guide price only. Final cost is confirmed after assessment.

mFat therapy uses your own adipose-derived stem cells to treat arthritis and degeneration in the hand joints. The hand depends on precise, coordinated joint movement for everything from gripping and writing to buttoning a shirt. When arthritis affects the thumb base or finger joints, it can have a significant impact on independence and daily function. Biological treatment with mFat aims to manage inflammation, support cartilage, and preserve the hand function you rely on.

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Prof Paul LeeReviewed byProf Paul LeeLast reviewed 1 May 2026
Adipose tissue harvest for biological therapy

Why hand joint arthritis has such a large impact

The hand has 27 bones and numerous small joints that work together for grip, pinch, and fine motor control. Arthritis in even a single joint can disrupt this coordination and make everyday tasks painful or difficult.

  • Thumb CMC arthritis affects up to 50% of women over 50 and impacts grip strength significantly.
  • Finger joint arthritis causes stiffness, swelling, and difficulty with fine tasks.
  • Surgical options for small hand joints are limited and often involve fusion.

Biological treatment at an earlier stage can help maintain joint movement and function, reducing the likelihood of needing surgery that permanently restricts the joint.

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The procedure and expected outcomes

mFat is delivered to the hand joints under ultrasound guidance following the standard adipose tissue harvest. The small joint anatomy of the hand requires precise needle placement, which image guidance ensures.

  • Single outpatient session with local anaesthetic throughout.
  • Light hand use resumes within days, progressive loading over two to four weeks.
  • Improvement in grip strength and pain reduction develops over weeks to months.

Hand mFat therapy can be combined with splinting, physiotherapy, or other injections as part of a comprehensive plan to preserve hand function and reduce pain.

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Laboratory processing of adipose tissue for hand injection

You may have more options than you think

Most patients have more treatment options than they have been told

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.

Preserve

Protect what you have. Slow degeneration and manage symptoms.

Repair

Fix specific damage. Torn tissue, unstable joints, structural problems.

Regenerate

Rebuild lost tissue. Biological treatments that stimulate new growth.

Replace

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.

Explore Hand Options
consulting-in-office-with-pen

Frequently Asked Questions

Which hand joints can be treated with mFat therapy?

The most commonly treated joint is the thumb base (CMC joint), which is responsible for grip and pinch strength. mFat can also be used for the finger joints (PIP and DIP), particularly when arthritis is causing pain and stiffness that limits daily hand use.

Is mFat effective for thumb base arthritis?

Thumb CMC arthritis is one of the most functionally limiting forms of hand arthritis, affecting grip, pinch, and the ability to open jars or turn keys. mFat therapy aims to reduce inflammation and support cartilage preservation, helping to maintain function and delay or avoid surgical options such as trapeziectomy.

What is the recovery like for hand mFat treatment?

Hand activity can resume within a few days, though grip loading should be introduced gradually over two to four weeks. Some tenderness at the injection site is normal. Most patients notice progressive improvement in pain and hand function over the following weeks.

Can multiple hand joints be treated in one session?

Yes. Several hand joints can be treated in a single session alongside the thumb if needed. Your specialist will assess which joints are contributing most to your symptoms and plan the injection accordingly.

Still have more specific concerns?

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