Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Virtual Reality as an Adjunct to Standard Care in Managing Perioperative Anxiety and Pain in Patients Undergoing Lower Limb Orthopedic Surgery Under Spinal Anesthesia

This randomized controlled clinical trial investigates the effect of immersive virtual reality (VR) on the management of perioperative anxiety and pain in patients undergoing elective lower limb orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia. The use of VR as a non-pharmacological adjunct is a novel and promising approach intended to improve the patient's perioperative experience, optimize physiological responses, and potentially reduce the consumption of sedatives and analgesics.

Participants in the intervention group will wear a VR headset that delivers immersive, calming visual and auditory content designed to promote relaxation and distraction before, during, and after the surgical procedure. The control group will receive standard care without VR. Both groups will receive spinal anesthesia as part of routine clinical practice.

Anxiety and pain will be measured at predefined perioperative time points using validated visual analog scales (VAS) and APAIS scale. Additional data on hemodynamic parameters, sedative and analgesic consumption, intraoperative complications, and postoperative satisfaction (from patients, surgeons, and anesthetists) will be collected to evaluate the overall impact of VR on perioperative care quality and patient outcomes.

This study is being conducted at Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia, over a 12-month period and represents the first clinical evaluation of virtual reality technology in an anesthesia context at this institution. The findings may contribute to the integration of digital tools into routine perioperative care, especially in low-resource settings, by demonstrating their utility in reducing stress, improving comfort, and supporting enhanced recovery after surgery.

Inclusion criteria

• - Inclusion Criteria :
• Age between 19 and 64 years
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification I or II (Annex 1)
• Scheduled for lower limb orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia
• Provided informed consent to participate in the study
• Non-Inclusion Criteria :
• Patient refusal to participate in the study
• Contraindications to virtual reality (VR) (Patients with cognitive or psychiatric disorders, Claustrophobia, Uncontrolled epilepsy, Visual and/or auditory impairments preventing the use of VR)
• Contraindications to midazolam: known hypersensitivity to benzodiazepines or any excipient of the product
• Patients currently taking anxiolytic medications
• Contraindications to regional anesthesia (spinal anesthesia), (Coagulation disorders, Shock or uncompensated hypovolemia, Unstable arterial hypertension, Decompensated heart failure, Severe aortic or mitral stenosis, Intracranial hypertension, Infection near the puncture site, Progressive neurological disorders, Allergy to local anesthetics, Technical difficulties in performing spinal anesthesia)

Exclusion criteria

• Failure of spinal anesthesia requiring conversion to general anesthesia
• Occurrence of an anesthetic or surgical complication
• Occurrence of an adverse effect related to virtual reality, such as (Dizziness, Ocular or muscular contractions triggered by light stimulation, Signs of discomfort : eye strain, blurred vision, disorientation, imbalance, anxiety attack, headache, nausea, vomiting)