Tracking early pain and recovery after a limb amputation
Official title: Early Postoperative Pain and Functional Recovery Following a Limb Amputation: a Retrospective Observational Study.
Run by Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli · NCT07393139 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will look at early post‑operative pain and functional recovery in adults who had a limb amputation to see how pain changes and what factors are linked to better or worse recovery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Bologna) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 9, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 2026 |
| Study ends | December 2026 |
| Registry record updated | November 4, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07393139 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18 years) who had a first-time limb amputation at IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli during the study period and who do not have severe cognitive impairment or immediate post-op mortality/critical illness are the ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with prior amputations, severe cognitive impairment or dementia, those who died or were critically ill within 48 hours, or those admitted for stump revision are unlikely to benefit from the study's findings.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a retrospective chart review of adults who underwent limb amputation at IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2025. Investigators will extract pain intensity, pain control measures, and functional recovery data from medical records and pain assessments. The study will describe the trajectory of early postoperative pain and recovery and perform exploratory analyses relating clinical, demographic, and therapeutic variables to primary outcomes. Patients with prior amputations, severe cognitive impairment, death or critical condition within 48 hours, or admissions for stump revision are excluded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help clinicians anticipate typical pain trajectories and tailor pain control and rehabilitation after amputation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous observational work has documented variable early post‑operative and phantom limb pain patterns, but comprehensive retrospective cohorts specifically focused on the immediate post‑operative trajectory remain limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients ≥ 18 years of age * Patients who underwent an amputation to any limb, regardless of location or diagnosis Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with severe cognitive impairment or diagnosed with dementia * Patients deceased or in critical conditions within 48 hours of the intervention * Previous amputation to any limb * Admission to the hospital because of a stump revision
Where it's running
-
IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
Bologna, Italy Recruiting
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Dexmedetomidine as add-on for refractory cancer pain in palliative care
This study tests whether adding dexmedetomidine helps improve pain control for adults with cancer in palliative care whose pain remains high despite opioids.
-
Two Ways to Help Pain After Breast Surgery: Education-Based Analgesia vs Standard Care
This trial tests whether teaching patients about pain management and using a multimodal pain plan improves pain control and recovery after breast surgery compared with standard care.
-
Virtual Reality Therapy to Improve Arthroplasty Outcomes
This pilot test checks whether using virtual reality during the perioperative period helps knee or hip replacement patients feel better about their care and recover more easily.
-
Suzetrigine for pain relief after knee replacement
This trial tests whether suzetrigine can reduce opioid use after a total knee replacement compared with placebo.
-
Analgesic effects of adding BiFeS block to adductor canal block after ACL reconstruction
This study tests whether adding a BiFeS block to the standard adductor canal block provides better pain relief after ACL reconstruction.
-
Tegileridine for pain after bariatric surgery
This phase 3 trial tests tegileridine vs standard opioid medicine to see if it provides good pain relief after bariatric surgery while considering sleep apnea status.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.