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Published on: April 20, 2019
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Virtual and Augmented Reality in Management of Phantom Limb Pain: A Systematic Review
Abdullah S Eldaly1, Francisco R Avila1, Ricardo A Torres-Guzman1
1Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
Hand (New York, N.Y.)
|November 7, 2022
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) show promise for phantom limb pain (PLP) therapy, with all reviewed studies reporting improvements. However, due to poor study design and high bias, current evidence is insufficient to recommend VR or AR for PLP management.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a common complication following upper and lower limb amputations.
- Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are emerging as potential therapeutic modalities for PLP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and evaluate the efficacy of VR and AR interventions in managing phantom limb pain.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across four major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science).
- Studies were screened and analyzed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.
- Nine studies (7 VR, 2 AR) were included, with quality assessment revealing one good and eight fair to poor quality studies.
Main Results:
- All nine included studies reported improvements in PLP, as measured by various pain scales (e.g., NRS, PRI, MPQ, VAS), following VR or AR interventions.
- Intervention parameters varied, with treatment sessions ranging from 1 to 28 and durations from 10 minutes to 2 hours.
Conclusions:
- Despite reported improvements in PLP, the current evidence base is limited by the poor quality, small sample sizes, and high bias of the included studies.
- Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are necessary to establish the efficacy and potential benefits of VR and AR for managing phantom limb pain.
