Study aims to define what 'Meaningful' pain relief really means for surgery patients
NCT ID NCT04811209
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study is trying to figure out what counts as a meaningful improvement in pain after major orthopedic surgeries like hip, knee, shoulder, or spine procedures. Researchers will ask 300 adults to rate their pain and recovery before and after surgery. The goal is to set clear benchmarks that doctors can use to know if a patient's pain treatment is working well enough.
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 study could help doctors better understand what level of pain relief patients consider worthwhile after surgery, leading to more personalized pain management.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not testing a new treatment. It may not change practice directly, and results might not apply to all types of surgery or patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 300 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jun 2021
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Study patients will be recruited at Toronto Western Hospital
- Ages
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
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: * Adult patients aged 18-80 years * ASA class I - III * Primary elective surgery * unilateral major shoulder surgery e.g., stabilization and arthroplasty procedures: * unilateral total hip replacement * unilateral total knee replacement, and * spinal decompression + fusion involving ≥ 2 levels. * Hospital admission for ≥ 24 hours after the surgery Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to give informed consent * Poor English comprehension * Psychiatric disorders e.g., dementia * Known allergies to morphine / hydromorphone * Chronic substance abuse and use of recreational drugs * Any medical disorder that impairs accurate and objective completion of questionnaires
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Toronto Western Hopspital
RECRUITINGToronto, Ontario, M5T2S8, Canada
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