Intraoperative virtual reality distraction in TKA under spinal anesthesia: a preliminary study

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Medical Technology
• Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

• Patient anxiety significantly impacts perioperative recovery.
• Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a distraction technique in anesthesia.
• The role of VR in managing anxiety during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) under spinal anesthesia (SA) requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of VR distraction on patient anxiety the day after TKA surgery.
• To compare post-operative anxiety levels in patients undergoing TKA under SA with and without VR.
• To assess secondary outcomes including sedation, intraoperative complications, pain, comfort, and satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study compared TKA patients under SA with VR (group 1) to those without VR (group 2).
• Patient anxiety was measured using the STAI Y-1 score.
• Secondary endpoints included sedation, intraoperative complications (hypotension, oxygen need), VAS pain/comfort scores, and patient satisfaction.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in post-operative anxiety (STAI Y-1) was observed between the VR and standard protocol groups.
• The VR group showed a significant decrease in sedation and intraoperative adverse events (hypotension, oxygen requirement).
• Postoperative comfort scores (VAS) were significantly higher in the VR group, while patient satisfaction remained unchanged.

Conclusions:

• VR immersive distraction did not alter patient anxiety levels following TKA under SA.
• VR use was associated with reduced intraoperative complications and enhanced postoperative comfort.
• This preliminary study suggests VR is a promising tool for improving patient experience in orthopedic surgery, warranting larger trials.