Effect of virtual reality (VR) therapy on pain sensation in patients undergoing hand surgery under ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial
Primary resultResult — go to the resultMean difference −0.3 95% CI −1.2 to 0.5Authors' 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.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing elective hand surgery under ultrasound-guided RA
- Participants
- 120 patients
- Comparison
- Perioperative VR therapy vs no VR therapy
- Primary endpoint
- Mean pain score (11-point NRS) during ultrasound-guided RA placement
Methodological detailsprospective, superiority
- Prospective
- Superiority
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Mean difference
−0.3
95% CI −1.2 to 0.5
P = 0.22
By group
Control
3.9
mean · SD 2.4
Virtual reality
3.6
mean · SD 2.4
Virtual reality vs Control
mean difference −0.3 (95% CI −1.2 to 0.5); P = 0.22
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | Values | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety during surgery (NRS)Virtual reality vs Control | Control 1.5 (interval 0.0–4.0) · Virtual reality 0.0 (interval 0.0–2.0) | P < 0.01 |
| VR immersion (Igroup Presence Questionnaire) | Virtual reality mean 4.2 (SD 0.9) | |
| Satisfaction with VR (NRS) | Virtual reality 9.0 (interval 8.0–10.0) |
Heart rate variation during RA placement and surgery
- Non-significantly different
Anxiety during RA placement
- No significant difference
Patient satisfaction during surgery and perioperative opioid use
- No significant difference
Safety
| Outcome | Values |
|---|---|
| Adverse VR effects | Virtual reality 11.9% |
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Effect of virtual reality (VR) therapy on pain sensation in patients undergoing hand surgery under ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial. Reg Anesth Pain Med. Published 1 June 2025. doi:10.
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