Understanding pain after knee surgery in older adults
Official title: Transition from Acute to Chronic Pain in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients: Identifying Resilience and Vulnerability Profiles
Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-10231116 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why some older adults develop long-lasting pain after knee surgery and aims to find out what helps some people cope better than others, so we can improve recovery for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2021 |
| Award (this year) | $2,891,192 |
| NIH project number | 5UM1NS112874-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10231116 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, particularly those aged 65 and above, who are undergoing total knee arthroplasty due to osteoarthritis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing knee surgery or are younger than 65 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how some patients transition from experiencing acute pain to chronic pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), particularly focusing on older adults. It aims to identify factors that contribute to resilience and vulnerability in these patients by analyzing clinical, biological, psychological, and socioeconomic data. By creating a comprehensive dataset, the research seeks to better understand the predictors of chronic pain following surgery, which could lead to improved patient outcomes. The study is being conducted at Rush University Medical Center, a leading provider of joint replacement surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better strategies for preventing chronic pain in patients undergoing knee surgery, ultimately improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in identifying predictors of chronic pain in surgical patients, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burns, John W. — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Burns, John W.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how some patients develop chronic pain after knee replacement surgery.
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This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
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.