Could freezing chest nerves replace opioids after mastectomy?
NCT ID NCT05444361
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether temporarily freezing the nerves that supply the breast can reduce pain and the need for opioid painkillers after mastectomy. About 216 women having breast removal will receive either the freezing treatment or a sham procedure. The goal is to see if a single, non-addictive nerve freeze can provide months of pain relief and lower the risk of long-term pain.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- cryoneurolysis (nerve freezing using a probe)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a long-lasting, non-opioid pain relief option for women after mastectomy, reducing both short-term pain and the risk of chronic pain.
- What could go wrong
- This is a mid-sized trial, and the freezing effect is temporary (2-3 months). It may not work for everyone, and there is a small risk of bleeding or nerve damage.
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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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Cedars-Sinai
Los Angeles, California, 90048, United States
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Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
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University of California San Diego
San Diego, California, 92103, United States
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University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, 32607, United States
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Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20889, United States
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