Artificial Intelligence Identifies Key Risk Factors for Severe Pain Following Knee Replacement Surgery

A recent breakthrough utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) has led to the identification of critical risk factors associated with increased pain intensity after knee replacement surgery. Presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA), this research was awarded the prestigious Best of Meeting honor for its scientific impact.

Conducted by the Pain Prevention Research Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), the study analyzed medical data from over 17,200 patients who underwent total knee replacement procedures between April 2021 and October 2024. The team aimed to classify distinct patient pain archetypes and determine predictive factors for severe postoperative pain, thus enabling personalized pain management strategies.

Using advanced machine learning techniques, the researchers identified two main pain archetypes: one characterized by severe, difficult-to-control pain, and the other by more manageable pain levels. Further analysis revealed that younger age, higher BMI, greater physical and mental impairments, and preoperative use of opioids or gabapentinoids significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing severe postoperative pain.

"Leveraging AI allows us to analyze complex patient data comprehensively, predicting which individuals are at higher risk of severe pain," explained Dr. Justin Chew, a clinical fellow involved in the study. Dr. Alexandra Sideris, director of the Pain Prevention Research Center, emphasized that these insights enable healthcare providers to tailor pain management plans specifically to each patient’s risk profile.

While this study focused on immediate postoperative pain, ongoing research aims to track patients over longer periods, seeking strategies to improve pain control and recovery. The integration of AI in clinical settings promises to revolutionize personalized care, reducing pain and enhancing recovery outcomes for knee replacement patients.

This significant advancement underscores the potential of machine learning to transform pain management protocols and improve patient quality of life after major orthopedic surgeries.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-ai-successfully-factors-linked-severe.html