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RecruitingNCT07437469Updated Sep 30, 2026

Binaural Beats for Postoperative Pain and Anxiety Reduction

An interventional study of Binaural Beats Audio Intervention and Music of Choice in TKA, THA and Anxiety, sponsored by University of Miami. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 99 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-30.

Sponsored by University of Miami · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
50
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 99 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

To deliver a 30-minute binaural beats audio intervention in PACU and collect pain and anxiety outcomes immediately following surgery, and 4 hours following surgery completion in adults undergoing ambulatory total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty (TKA and THA).

02

Conditions studied

  • TKA
  • THA
  • Anxiety
  • Binaural Beats
  • Music Exposure
  • Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)
  • Total Knee Arthroplasty
  • Total Knee Replacement
  • Total Hip Replacement

Keywords

  • THA
  • TKA
  • Total hip arthroplasty
  • Total knee arthroplasty
  • Anxiety
  • Pain
  • Binaural Beats
  • Music Exposure
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 99 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System (ASA) 1-3
  • Spinal anesthesia
  • Patients receiving nerve-block in Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
  • Primary total hip or total knee arthroplasty

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Moderate-severe hearing impairment or use of hearing aids
  • History of significant tinnitus, active delirium, chronic high-dose opioid therapy (>60 MME/day baseline)
  • Major psychiatric pathology
  • General anesthesia
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
50 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Binaural Beats (BB)

    Participants assigned to this arm will listen to a 30-minute binaural beats audio session at a comfortable volume through standardized over-ear headphones while in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The audio will use a primary target frequency of 10 Hz (alpha range), created using soft sine-wave carriers in the 200-600 Hz range that generate a 10 Hz interaural difference (e.g., 400 Hz left ear / 410 Hz right ear). Volume will be set at a comfortable conversational level (\~55-65 dBA) and may be adjusted by the participant. The session will begin within 15 minutes of PACU arrival. Participants may stop the audio at any time.

    Other: Binaural Beats Audio Intervention

  • Active comparator
    Music of Choice (MOC)

    Participants in this arm will receive usual postoperative care in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and may listen to music of their choice using standardized headphones. They will select their preferred music and listen for 30 minutes at a comfortable volume (\~55-65 dBA), which they may adjust as needed. No binaural beat frequencies will be used. Music listening is optional and may be stopped at any time.

    Other: Music of Choice

Interventions

  • OtherBinaural Beats Audio Intervention

    30-minute binaural beats audio session targeting 400 and 410 hertz (Hz) alpha 400 hertz (Hz) in one ear 410 hertz (Hz) in other ear frequency delivered through standardized headphones in the PACU.

  • OtherMusic of Choice

    Usual postoperative care in addition to patient-selected music using standardized headphones

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Pain Score Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)

    Pain intensity will be measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), a validated 0-10 scale where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain. Change will be calculated as the difference between the pre-operative NPRS score and the NPRS score obtained 4 hours after surgery. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-operative) to 4 hours post-operation.

  2. Change in Anxiety Score State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S)

    Anxiety will be measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State Subscale (STAI-S). The STAI-S consists of 20 items scored from 1 to 4, producing a total score range of 20-80, with higher scores indicating greater state anxiety. Change will be calculated as the difference between the pre-operative STAI-S score and the STAI-S score obtained 4 hours after surgery.

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-operative) to 4 hours post-operation.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Total Opioid Consumption in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) (MME)

    Total opioid use administered during the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay will be recorded, including all intravenous and oral opioid medications. All doses will be converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MME) using standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conversion factors. Unit of Measure: Morphine milligram equivalents (MME)

    Time frame: From PACU arrival (time 0) until PACU discharge (typically 1-4 hours post-operation)

  2. Postoperative Vital Signs Heart Rate

    Heart rate (beats per minute) recorded at fixed 30-minute intervals during PACU recovery. Values will be abstracted from the electronic medical record.

    Time frame: Every 30 minutes from PACU arrival until PACU discharge (approximately 1-4 hours post-operation).

  3. Patient Satisfaction Score

    Patient satisfaction with the postoperative experience will be measured using a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 = very dissatisfied and 5 = very satisfied. Unit of Measure: Likert score (1-5)

    Time frame: Measured once during the PACU stay, at the earliest feasible time point up to 4 hours post-operation

  4. Postoperative Vital Signs Blood Pressure

    Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (millimeters of mercury) recorded at fixed 30-minute intervals during PACU recovery. Values will be abstracted from the electronic medical record.

    Time frame: Every 30 minutes from PACU arrival until PACU discharge (approximately 1-4 hours post-operation).

  5. Postoperative Vital Signs Respiratory Rate

    Respiratory rate (breaths per minute) recorded at fixed 30-minute intervals during PACU recovery. Values will be abstracted from the electronic medical record.

    Time frame: Every 30 minutes from PACU arrival until PACU discharge (approximately 1-4 hours post-operation).

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Univeristy of Miami Health System
    Miami, Florida 33132, United States
    • Andrew R Moya, MD · Contact · arm577@miami.edu · 786-856-6463
    • Victor H Hernandez, MD · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07437469
Lead sponsor
University of Miami
Responsible party
Victor Hugo Hernandez (Chief of Joint Replacement, University of Miami) — Principal investigator
First posted
Feb 27, 2026
Start date
Mar 9, 2026
Primary completion
Jan 31, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Jan 31, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 30, 2026

Study contacts

Andrew R Moya, MD
Contact
arm577@miami.edu, doc.a.moya1@gmail.com
1786-856-6463
Victor H Hernandez, MD, MSc
principal investigator · University of Miami

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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