Effects of tDCS Combined With CBI on Postsurgical Pain

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Total Knee Arthroplasty (Postoperative Pain), Total Hip Arthroplasty (Postoperative Pain)

In brief

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a new medical technology can help reduce post-operative total knee or hip pain when combined with a Cognitive-Behavioral intervention (CBI). This new medical technology, is called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), it uses a very small amount of electricity to temporarily stimulate specific areas of the brain thought to be involved in pain reduction. The electrical current passes through the skin, scalp, hair, and skull and requires no additional medication, sedation, or needles. This study will investigate the effects of tDCS, the Cognitive-Behavioral (CB) intervention and their combination on pain among veterans following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA). The Veteran may benefit in the form of decreased pain and opioid requirements following knee or hip replacement surgery. However, benefit is only likely if Veterans are randomized to one of the 3 (out of 4) groups. This study hopes to determine the effects of these interventions and combined effect on post-operative pain, opioid use and functioning during the 48-hour post-operative period following a total knee or hip replacement.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04199780

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

132

Starts

2021-01-11

Expected to finish

2026-07-31

Last updated by the study team

2025-07-30

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 90. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Participants will be 120 patients (132 recruited to account for 10% drop-out rate) undergoing TKA or 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 CB intervention and understand educational materials through headphones in English

You may not qualify if…

• 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).

Where it is running

• Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC — Charleston, South Carolina, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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