Virtual Reality's Effect on Decreasing Pain and Subsequent Opioid Use in Pediatric Patients in the Post-Operative Period Following Scoliosis Repair

This project evaluates whether providing pediatric post-operative scoliosis repair patients with a virtual reality (VR) session at specific time point following surgery can decrease pain and stress experienced and if this leads to a decrease in the use of pain medications required during the immediate recovery period. Virtual reality technology was ordered to use as a distraction tool as part of routine pediatric care for hospitalized patients. The study involves measuring pain and stress using validated scales as well as calculating opioid use in this specific pediatric post-operative scoliosis repair population. All post-operative scoliosis repair patients admitted to the inpatient pediatric floor above 7 years of age will be eligible for participation in this study. The goal is to collect data on at least 50 patients over the course of 12-18 months. Parental consent and child assent will be obtained on day 2 post-op surgery using a standardized consent and assent form, respectively. Data will be collected from the Numerical Pain Rating Scale and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, which will be administered pre- and post-VR sessions, with the goal of comparing scores to evaluate for any decrease in pain and stress levels. Data on inpatient opioid use post-operatively will be used to compare with previous post-operative scoliosis patients to determine whether there a significant decrease in opioid use in the subjects exposed to VR. During the data collection process, results will be documented in an organized but deidentified manner.

Inclusion criteria

• all pediatric patients post scoliosis repair
• age 7-21

Exclusion criteria

• age less than 7 years;
• history of seizures, epilepsy,
• history of motion sickness/balance problems,
• susceptibility to migraines
• currently pregnant