Military study seeks blood clues to Sleep-Pain mystery after surgery

NCT ID NCT03850743

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This observational study enrolled 111 active-duty military members and eligible patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Researchers collected blood samples and survey data to find biomarkers (like microRNA and cytokines) linked to sleep problems and pain before and after surgery. The goal is to understand why some people develop chronic pain and sleep issues while others recover well. No treatment or drug was tested.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to

If successful, this could help identify biological markers that predict who will have worse sleep and pain after surgery, potentially guiding future treatments.

What could go wrong

This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It only looks for patterns in blood samples and surveys, so it won't directly improve health. Results may not apply to non-military populations.

Disclaimer Read more

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.

Pain, Postoperative

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20889, United States