Electric brain zaps and mind tricks: a new combo to fight Post-Surgical pain?
NCT ID NCT04199780
First seen Aug 20, 2026 · Last updated Aug 21, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether a gentle electrical brain stimulation technique called tDCS, combined with a cognitive-behavioral intervention (CBI), can reduce pain and opioid use in veterans after knee or hip replacement surgery. Participants receive either tDCS, CBI, both, or a placebo during the 48 hours after surgery. The goal is to see if this drug-free approach can improve pain management and reduce reliance on opioids.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with a cognitive-behavioral intervention
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this approach could offer a drug-free way to ease post-surgical pain and cut opioid use in veterans undergoing joint replacement.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage trial with a modest number of participants, and the benefit may only apply to certain groups. tDCS is generally safe but may cause mild discomfort or tingling at the electrode sites.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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106 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2021
- Finished
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Jul 2026
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a US federal agency other than the NIH.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 90 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Participants will be 120 patients (132 recruited to account for 10% drop-out rate) undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgery at the Ralph H. Johnson VAMC in Charleston SC. * Mentally capable of reading, writing, giving consent, and following instructions * Cleared for, and scheduled for unilateral TKA or THA surgery * Able to hear Cognitive-Behavioral (CB) intervention and understand educational materials through headphones in English Exclusion Criteria: * implanted medical devices above the waist * pregnant * history of seizures * allergic to latex rubber * psychiatric conditions except for depression and/or anxiety disorders (commonly seen in this population)
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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
Locations
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Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC
Charleston, South Carolina, 29401-5703, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.