Ice your pain away: nerve freezing may cut opioid use after lung surgery
NCT ID NCT05144828
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested freezing the nerves between the ribs during robot-assisted lung surgery to see if it reduces pain and the need for painkillers afterward. 33 adults having lung surgery were randomly assigned to get the nerve freeze or standard pain medicine. Researchers tracked their pain scores and painkiller use for 21 days after surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Intercostal nerve cryoablation (freezing nerves between ribs)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a way to better manage pain after lung surgery and reduce reliance on opioid painkillers.
What could go wrong
This is a small, single-surgeon trial with only 33 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Freezing nerves may cause temporary numbness or other side effects.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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The Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, United States