How Variations in Pharmacogenomic Profiles Affect Pain and Narcotic Needs Following Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)

The purpose of the study is to gain a better understanding of how genetic variations can affect pain experience and the need and type of pain control medication after a total knee replacement. People experience pain differently. The type and amount of medication required to control pain varies. Post-operative pain often requires narcotics to keep patients comfortable. It has been shown that there is a genetic difference in how people respond to pain and how they respond to the medications used for the relief of pain. Opioids are often used to relieve pain after surgery. These medications can be abused and have had a role in the current opioid crisis. Pharmacogenomics is the study of how patients respond to and metabolize drugs and medications based on their genetic profiles. This study will collect data on the pain experienced by participants and the narcotics used after total knee replacements. This will be correlated with the participants' pharmacogenomic profiles obtained though DNA testing. There are no treatment interventions in this study. Although a pharmacogenomic profile will be obtained at the first post-operative visit and reported approximately 3 weeks later, the subject will have completed the need for pain relief. The study is expected to last 2 years with 300 subjects enrolled.