Pain Reprocessing Therapy in Post-Operative Knee Pain

Recruiting now · Phase 2

Conditions studied: Pain, Chronic, Knee Pain Chronic

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) can help adults with knee pain after knee replacement surgery. The study is comparing PRT to usual care (the regular treatment people get after surgery) to see which works better for relieving pain. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1. Does PRT help lower pain in people who have chronic knee pain after knee surgery? 2. How do the effects of PRT compare with usual care in terms of pain relief and other factors such as anxiety, depression, and sleep? 3. How does PRT impact the brain? Participants will: 1. Be randomly assigned to receive either PRT or usual care. 2. Complete questionnaires about their pain and health. 3. If in the PRT group, have eight weekly therapy sessions over video calls with a therapist. 4. If interested, may also take part in an optional EEG test to measure brain activity related to pain.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT06800209
Run by: Weill Medical College of Cornell University
People needed: 110
Starts: 2025-08-13
Expected to finish: 2028-09-29
Last updated by the study team: 2026-08-05

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Patients are deemed eligible at 3 months post-operatively if: The patient completed a primary knee replacement [surgery completed without complication and patient exhibits full mechanical joint function, as determined by the treating physician (good range of motion, stability, and wound healing; absence of swelling)] and patient reports last week average knee pain ≥ 4 of 20 and at least two questions rated 'moderate' on A 12-item shortened version (ShortMAC) of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).
Reported pre-operative chronic knee pain of at least 6 months duration prior to surgery
The procedure was a primary (not a revision) knee replacement
Proficient in English

You may not qualify if…

Patients who are not willing to participate in a telehealth visit.
Patients with pre-op chronic pain but who do not have post-operative pain after the three month time period.
Active suicidal ideation with intent, recent history of suicide attempt, or self-harm behaviors within the past 5 years (including non-suicidal self-harm).
Recent history of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization within the past 5 years.
Active, current psychosis or mania.
Active, current substance abuse, or problems with substance abuse within the past 2 years.
Instability in living conditions or major interfering life events:
Major surgery or other major medical event planned in coming 6 months.
Uncertain whether they will have suitable conditions for telehealth appointments over the next 2 months, including access to a computer or tablet, reliable high-speed internet, and a quiet, comfortable room that is consistently available.
Major, interfering changes in employment or housing anticipated over the next 6 months.
Neurological conditions (e.g., Alzheimer's, dementia, mild cognitive impairment, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy). This will be case-by-case decision made by PI to determine if the condition may interfere with treatment and warrant exclusion.
Self-reported diagnosis of an autoimmune disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, scleroderma, lupus, polymyositis, or another autoimmune disorder).
Currently or plan to be involved in lawsuits related to pain in next 6 months, currently or plan to apply for any disability payments related to the pain in next 6 months, or received legal settlement or other disability payments related to the pain over past 2 years.
EEG Exclusion Criteria (patients can still be enrolled as long as they meet all other eligibility criteria; however, they will not undergo EEG testing):
Are unable or uncomfortable with completing a dry cap EEG.
Has had a history of abnormal EEGs.
Had bilateral TKA

Where it is running

Hospital for Special Surgery — New York, New York, United States (enrolling)
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus — Aurora, Colorado, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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