Can CBD prevent chronic pain after knee surgery?

This pilot trial is testing whether cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating compound from cannabis, could help reduce persistent post-surgical pain in patients undergoing knee replacement surgery. The study is significant because 1 in 4 knee replacement patients develop chronic pain even after successful surgery, and current treatments often rely on opioids with their associated risks. Researchers will recruit 40 patients across multiple centers and randomly assign them to receive either MPL-001 (an oral CBD-dominant formulation) or placebo alongside standard post-operative care for 6 months.

The trial is designed first as a feasibility study to determine if a larger, definitive trial is possible. Key benchmarks include successfully recruiting 40 patients within 6 months, achieving ≥75% treatment adherence, and maintaining <15% loss to follow-up. Beyond these feasibility metrics, researchers will measure how CBD affects post-surgical pain intensity, opioid consumption (a major health concern), sleep quality, physical function, and emotional well-being. The study represents an important exploration of CBD's analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties as a potential alternative or complement to traditional pain management strategies following major orthopedic surgery.

If the pilot trial meets its feasibility targets, the researchers plan to immediately transition their pilot participants into a larger definitive trial to establish whether CBD is truly effective for preventing persistent post-surgical pain. This approach could accelerate research and eventually provide surgeons and patients with new evidence-based options for managing one of the most frustrating complications of knee replacement—chronic pain that persists long after the surgery heals.