Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Postoperative Pain

(KART Trial)

This trial tests a treatment called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to determine its effectiveness in managing pain after knee replacement surgery. The goal is to reduce both immediate pain and the risk of developing long-term pain post-surgery. Participants will receive either active tDCS treatment or a placebo (inactive) version. The trial seeks individuals scheduled for knee replacement surgery due to advanced osteoarthritis who have access to a smartphone or tablet.

As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative pain management research.

The trial requires that you stop taking medications or substances that affect brain activity, like antiepileptics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and antipsychotics, within the past 30 days.

Research has shown that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) might be safe and helpful for managing post-surgical pain. In some studies, tDCS helped patients use less morphine and reduced their pain levels after operations. Specifically, one study found that patients using tDCS needed 46% less pain medication.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is unique because it offers a non-invasive approach to managing postoperative pain, unlike traditional methods like opioids and NSAIDs, which involve medication. tDCS works by delivering a mild electrical current to the scalp, potentially altering brain activity to reduce pain perception. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it could offer pain relief without the side effects and addiction risks associated with standard pain medications. Additionally, the home-based application of tDCS makes it a convenient option for patients, potentially transforming how postoperative pain is managed.

Research has shown that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) might help reduce pain in conditions like fibromyalgia and migraines. Studies have found that tDCS can decrease the need for opioid painkillers after surgery and lower pain levels. For instance, patients who received tDCS used less morphine and felt less pain after surgeries such as chest and spine operations. In this trial, participants will receive either active tDCS stimulation or a sham (non-active) tDCS treatment. These findings suggest that tDCS could also help manage pain after knee replacement surgery, possibly reducing the risk of long-term pain.¹²⁴⁵⁶