Knee Replacement clinical trials at UCSF

This study is looking at whether taking a nutritional supplement before and after knee replacement surgery affects normal recovery. The supplement is Xcelerated Recovery (XR), an over-the-counter supplement made with essential amino acids (EAAs), which are building blocks of protein that the body cannot make on its own. Participants aged 65 and older with planned knee replacement surgery, and signs of nutritional risk or reduced muscle strength on short screening questionnaires, will be invited to join. Participants are assigned by chance to one of two groups. One group receives usual care plus the XR supplement, taken twice a day starting 7 days before surgery and continuing for 14 days after surgery. The other group receives usual care without the supplement. Everyone in the study wears a small temporary skin sensor (similar to a temporary tattoo) on the knee and uses a smartphone app to take scans that measure knee size. Participants also have in-person visits before surgery and 2 weeks and 1 month after surgery. The main goal is to measure how knee and leg size (circumference) changes after surgery in each group. Researchers will also look at muscle strength, knee movement, walking and mobility tests, and reported pain. This study is not testing the supplement as a treatment for any disease or medical condition. The results may help researchers better understand how nutrition relates to normal recovery after knee replacement surgery.