PAIN, POSTOPERATIVE

This study looks at a different way of stitching after breast removal surgery to prevent fluid buildup (seroma) and infection. Normally, two drains are placed, but here doctors will use quilting stitches to attach skin to muscle and compare using one drain versus two. The goal is…

This study tests whether giving the numbing drug lidocaine through a vein during breast cancer surgery can prevent persistent pain that often lasts for months after the operation. About 1,600 adults having a lumpectomy or mastectomy will be randomly assigned to receive either lid…

This study looks at whether giving children gabapentin before and after chest surgery can reduce their need for strong painkillers like morphine. About 60 children under 18 having heart or lung surgery will take part. The goal is to see if gabapentin can safely lower opioid use a…

This study tests whether a nerve block can help reduce the need for strong painkillers (opioids) after neck surgery. About 60 people having posterior cervical spine surgery will be randomly assigned to receive either the nerve block plus standard pain medication or standard pain …

This study tests a new, less invasive way to place screws in the neck spine (cervical spine) using the ennovate® system. It compares the new method to standard open surgery in 76 adults with cervical spine disease. The main goal is to see if the new approach reduces pain and impr…

This study tests whether a 7-day buprenorphine skin patch can safely control pain after ankle fracture surgery and reduce the need for addictive opioids. About 100 adults who have never taken opioids before will receive either the patch or a placebo, along with standard pain care…

This study compares aloe vera gel dressings to traditional paraffin-based dressings for pain at the skin graft donor site. About 72 adults aged 18-60 will receive one of the two dressings after surgery. Pain is measured on day 7 using a standard scale, and extra pain medication u…

This study compares a single dose of methadone (a long-acting opioid) given during surgery to standard short-acting opioids for pain control after tonsillectomy in children aged 3 to 17. The main goal is to see if fewer children need extra pain medicine in the recovery room. The …

This study looks at two methods of delivering pain medicine through a nerve block after surgery: a steady drip or scheduled small doses. The goal is to find which method better controls pain and reduces the need for extra painkillers. About 240 adults having surgery will take par…

This study compares standard pain management to a special nerve block (PENG block) in 70 adults aged 30-85 having hip fracture surgery. The goal is to see if the block reduces pain, cuts the need for extra painkillers, and helps patients get up and walk sooner. Researchers will a…

This study compares two types of pain relief—spinal and epidural anesthesia—for people having liver surgery. The goal is to see if spinal anesthesia helps control blood pressure better and reduces the need for IV fluids after surgery, while still providing good pain control. The …

This study compares two types of nerve blocks (PENG block and L-ESP block) to see which one provides better pain relief after total hip replacement surgery. About 52 adults having hip replacement under spinal anesthesia will take part. Researchers will track pain scores, painkill…

This study tests two different numbing injections for pain after kidney transplant surgery. One group gets a single long-lasting shot, and the other gets a shot plus a small tube that delivers numbing medicine for a longer time. The goal is to see which method reduces the need fo…

This study tests whether taking 600 mg of gabapentin two hours before wisdom tooth extraction can lower pain and reduce the need for opioid painkillers afterward. About 98 adults will be randomly assigned to receive either gabapentin or a placebo. Researchers will track opioid us…

This study tests whether mixing two numbing drugs (lidocaine and bupivacaine) works faster than using one alone for a nerve block before leg surgery. About 60 adults having elective below-knee surgery will be randomly assigned to receive either the combo or the single drug. Resea…

This study looks at whether patients recovering from shoulder surgery can safely and effectively give themselves liquid acetaminophen (a common pain reliever) instead of waiting for a nurse to bring pills. About 24 adults will be enrolled to test how well this patient-controlled …

This study looks at whether non-narcotic pain medications work as well as opioids after knee arthroscopy. About 148 adults having knee surgery will be randomly assigned to receive either opioids or non-opioids for pain. The goal is to see if non-opioids can provide similar pain r…

This study tests a new device that only releases opioid pain pills after a patient enters their pain level into a smartphone app. Half of the 30 spine surgery patients will use the device, while the other half get a standard pill bottle. The goal is to see if the device helps pat…

This study tests whether a special nerve block (PECS) given before surgery can lower the need for strong painkillers after implanting a heart device in children aged 3-18. Half the kids will get the nerve block plus standard numbing, the other half only standard numbing. The goal…

This study tests whether giving a continuous drip of local anesthetic (with or without an NSAID) into the belly during and after minimally invasive hysterectomy can lower pain scores and reduce the need for narcotic painkillers. About 120 women having hysterectomy for non-cancer …

This study tests two different numbing injections to see which one controls pain better after hypospadias repair in boys aged 1 to 5. One injection targets the sacral area near the spine, the other targets the caudal space. Researchers will measure pain levels, need for extra pai…

This study tests whether a single spinal injection of morphine given before lung surgery can reduce the amount of painkillers patients need afterward and lower their pain levels. About 90 adults having video-assisted or robotic lung surgery will be randomly assigned to receive ei…

This study tests whether giving the sleep medication zolpidem before and after lumbar spine fusion surgery helps reduce pain and improve function. About 140 adults with degenerative lumbar disease will be randomly assigned to receive zolpidem or a placebo. The goal is to see if b…

This study compares giving oral methadone before heart surgery versus intravenous methadone during anesthesia to see which better controls pain afterward. About 100 adults having elective heart surgery will take part at Mayo Clinic. The goal is to reduce the total amount of opioi…

This study tests whether a numbing injection (bupivacaine) into a nerve cluster behind the nose can reduce pain after minimally invasive pituitary tumor surgery. About 108 adults will receive either the nerve block, a placebo, or no extra injection, and report their pain levels o…

This study tests a device called VibraCool that uses cooling and vibration to reduce pain after ACL knee surgery. Researchers want to see if it helps people use fewer opioid painkillers. About 130 adults who had ACL reconstruction will use the device and report their pain levels …

This study tests if freezing certain nerves during surgery for broken ribs can reduce pain and the need for strong painkillers afterward. About 80 adults with multiple broken ribs will either get standard surgery or surgery plus nerve freezing. The goal is to see if the freezing …

This study tests if applying a steroid during back surgery can lower pain and the need for strong painkillers. About 150 adults having a 1-2 level lumbar laminectomy will be randomly assigned to receive the steroid or not. Researchers will track opioid use, hospital stay length, …

This study tests whether avoiding opioids during breast cancer surgery can reduce side effects like nausea and breathing problems, while still controlling pain. About 200 adults having a lumpectomy or mastectomy will be randomly assigned to receive either opioid-free or standard …

This study looks at how well different pain medicine plans work for young children after dental surgery done under general anesthesia. About 75 children will get either ibuprofen alone, ibuprofen and acetaminophen given at different times, or both medicines together. Caregivers w…

This study tests whether a special nerve block (QL block) can reduce pain and the need for strong painkillers after hip replacement surgery. About 80 adults having planned hip replacement will take part. Researchers will measure pain levels and how quickly patients can stand up a…

This study is testing a mobile app called L-WebTIPS, which was culturally adapted for Latinx families, to see if it can reduce anxiety and pain in children ages 2-7 having outpatient surgery. The app provides information, modeling, and coping skills to prepare children and their …

This study tests if a non-invasive device that gently stimulates nerves in the ear can help reduce pain after lumbar spine surgery. The goal is to see if this approach can lower the need for opioid painkillers. About 20 adults having back surgery will be enrolled and their pain l…

This study tests a newer nerve block method (BiFeS) against a standard one (iPACK) for pain control after total knee replacement. About 88 adults having knee surgery will be randomly assigned to one of the two blocks, both combined with a common nerve block (adductor canal block)…

This study tests if a long-acting painkiller called Exparel can better control pain and reduce the need for strong narcotic pain pills in children and teens after knee surgery. About 100 participants aged 13 and older will receive either Exparel plus a standard painkiller or the …

This study compares two types of nerve blocks—Quadratus Lumborum and Transversalis Fascia—to see which one controls pain better after inguinal hernia surgery. About 60 adults having elective surgery will receive one of the two blocks, and researchers will measure how long it take…

This study looks at whether a 12-week online dance program can improve quality of life, reduce pain, and ease fatigue in breast cancer survivors who have ongoing pain after surgery. About 30 adults who had a lumpectomy or mastectomy and still have moderate to severe pain will tak…

This study tests whether different doses of a long-lasting numbing medicine (liposomal bupivacaine) can better control pain after total knee replacement. About 177 adults having robotic knee surgery will receive the medicine in a nerve block. The goal is to find the best dose to …

This study tests if a targeted back muscle injection (ESPB) works better than a standard skin injection for pain control after lumbar spinal fusion. Researchers will track pain levels and opioid use in 66 adults for two weeks after surgery. The goal is to see if the ESPB method l…

This study tests whether a special nerve block (PIFB) can improve recovery after open-heart surgery. About 123 adults having planned heart surgery will be randomly assigned to one of two pain-block methods. The goal is to see if one method helps patients feel better and recover f…

This study compares two pain relief methods for people recovering from abdominal surgery. One group gets a standard numbing drug (bupivacaine) alone, while the other gets it mixed with a sedative (dexmedetomidine). The goal is to see if the combo provides better pain control and …

This study compares a new local numbing method (PENG block) to standard spinal anesthesia for adults having hip replacement after a fracture. The goal is to see if the new technique controls pain just as well while allowing earlier leg movement and causing less nausea. About 100 …

This study tests whether avoiding opioids during and after obesity surgery can improve recovery and reduce side effects. About 220 adults having laparoscopic obesity surgery will be randomly assigned to opioid-free care (with or without personalized support) or standard opioid-ba…

This study compares two common pain medicine combinations after surgery: NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) plus acetaminophen (Tylenol) versus low-dose opioids plus acetaminophen. About 900 adults having gallbladder removal, hernia repair, or breast lump removal will take part. The goal is…

This study tests whether a device that creates a pulsed magnetic field (PEMF) can help reduce pain after knee or shoulder surgery. About 76 adults will use the device or a fake one for 10 days after their operation. Researchers will measure pain levels and how much pain medicine …

This study compares two different nerve-blocking techniques for pain relief after spinal fusion surgery. Researchers will test both methods on 80 patients to see which provides better pain control and recovery. The goal is to help patients feel less pain after surgery while reduc…

This study is observing 60 people who will have robot-assisted surgery to remove their bladder (radical cystectomy). The goal is to measure how much blood is lost during surgery, how much pain patients feel afterward, and whether they need blood transfusions. The study does not t…

This study looks at how pain signals in the brain and nerve regrowth in the eye change after corneal crosslinking (CXL) for keratoconus. Researchers will use brain scans (fMRI) and special eye microscopes to track healing in 60 people aged 8-35. The goal is to understand pain bet…