Virtual Reality During Intrathecal Pump Refills in Children

Virtual reality (VR) is a technological rehabilitation tool that allows the user to experience the interaction with a computer-generated environment. It may provide some advantages over conventional care: it allows the simulation of realistic environments and patients feel more motivated by this kind of virtual environment. VR constitutes an enriched environment with augmented multiple sensory feedbacks (auditory, visual, tactile VR enriched environment) that has already shown some efficiency in reducing chronic pain. There is mounting evidence from acute pain conditions, such as wound care, that VR could play a role as an additional treatment method to relieve pain A possible explanation for its mechanism of action is provided by "the gate-theory of attention". VR reduces the perception of pain by diverting attention away from the pain. Most children experience pain and fear when receiving a medical treatment; two feelings which are closely related and affecting one another. Moreover, children often describe procedures involving needles as the most stressful portion of the hospital experience. Children who have been implanted with an intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pump, need to come to the hospital for a refill approximately every 3 months, depending on the exact dose. During the refill, the physician places a needle directly into the reservoir to refill the pump. To alleviate the pain and fear with these refill procedures, it is hypothesized that VR could alleviate pain and make these refills more feasible. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether VR is reducing pain during a refill procedure, in children receiving intrathecal drug delivery compared to usual care.

Inclusion criteria

• Children with cerebral palsy between 8 and 16 years who have an implanted pump for intrathecal drug delivery
• Child and parents have been informed of the study procedures and have given written informed consent
• Child and parents willing to comply with study protocol
• Child and parents are able to speak Dutch/French (questionnaires)
• Cognitive and language functioning enabling communication between the physician/researcher and the child

Exclusion criteria

• Children with susceptibility to motion sickness or cyber-sickness
• Children with susceptibility to claustrophobia
• History of seizures/epilepsia