Cannabidiol (CBD) to reduce opioid use after knee replacement
Official title: Cannabidiol for postoperative Opioid Reduction in primary total Knee arthroplasty – a randomized, 2x2 factorial, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (The CORK trial)
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11192350 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will see if taking cannabidiol (CBD) around the time of a knee replacement helps people use fewer opioid pain medicines after surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,109,271 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AR083132-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11192350 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults scheduled for primary total knee arthroplasty who can take CBD and agree to study visits and medication reporting are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People not having knee replacement, those with medical reasons to avoid cannabinoids, or those already dependent on high-dose opioids may not benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to receive CBD or a placebo in a 2x2 factorial, double-blind design so neither you nor the staff know which treatment you get. The team will track how much opioid medication you use, your pain levels, side effects, and recovery after your primary total knee arthroplasty. Visits and monitoring happen around the time of surgery and during recovery to collect medication use and symptom reports. The goal is to learn whether adding CBD can safely lower opioid needs after knee replacement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, CBD could reduce how much opioid medication people need after knee replacement, lowering side effects and the risk of long-term opioid dependence.
How similar studies have gone: Some animal studies and small human reports suggest CBD can reduce pain, anxiety, and opioid craving, but rigorous randomized trials for postoperative opioid reduction are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brummett, Chad M — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Brummett, Chad M
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.