Effect of virtual reality (VR) therapy on pain sensation in patients undergoing hand surgery under ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial.

Background and objectives: During ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia and surgery, patients receive sensory input, which combined with stress and anxiety, can exacerbate or cause pain. Virtual reality therapy could provide digital sedation. Our aim is to assess the effect of virtual reality therapy on pain levels during the placement of regional anesthesia and surgery.

Methods: This prospective randomized controlled superiority trial enrolled 120 patients undergoing elective hand surgery to investigate the effect of perioperative virtual reality therapy, consisting of a visual and audible three-dimensional, passive program. Patients were randomized to virtual reality therapy (n=60) or no virtual reality therapy (n=60) during regional anesthesia block placement and surgical procedure. Mean pain score (11-point numerical rating scale) during ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia placement was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were the mean pain score during surgery, heart rate variation during ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia placement and surgery, perioperative opioid use, anxiety (11-point numerical rating scale where 0=no anxiety at all and 10=extremely anxious), virtual reality immersion and presence (Igroup Presence Questionnaire), adverse events and patient satisfaction (11-point numerical rating scale where 0=not satisfied at all and 10=extremely satisfied).

Results: Mean pain scores during ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia placement were 3.9±2.4 in the control group and 3.6±2.4 in the virtual reality group, with a mean difference of -0.3 (95% CI -1.2 to 0.5; p=0.22). Heart rate variation during ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia placement and surgery was non-significantly different. Anxiety during ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia placement showed no significant difference; however, it was significantly different during surgery (control: 1.5 (0.0, 4.0) vs virtual reality: 0.0 (0.0, 2.0), p<0.01). Virtual reality immersion showed a total mean score of 4.2±0.9. Seven patients (11.9%) suffered from adverse virtual reality effects. Patient satisfaction during surgery and perioperative opioid use showed no significant difference. Satisfaction with virtual reality was high: 9.0 (8.0, 10.0).

Conclusion: Our results show that the use of virtual reality therapy during ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia placement and hand surgery does not result in lower pain scores. A perioperative significant positive effect on anxiety was measured, combined with a clinically significant effect on perioperative anxiety. The clinical influence of different virtual reality therapy systems on pain and anxiety should be further investigated in (other) elective procedures.

Trial registration number: NCT05183412.