A PATIENT UNDERGOING A WIDE-AWAKE CARPAL TUNNEL RELEASE IN THE OFFICE USING AN IMMERSIVE VR HEADSET.
A Michigan State University (MSU) team is investigating using VR headsets to reduce anxiety in wide-awake local anesthesia surgery patients.
According to an MSU study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, patients immersed in VR during surgery felt significantly more joy and less anxiety than those in traditional operating settings.
Researchers compared patients having traditional carpal tunnel release surgery under general anesthetic against awake surgery patients under local anesthesia.
- Wide-awake subjects under VR immersion reported higher enjoyment levels than those undergoing the same surgery without VR experience.
- The study revealed that anxiety disorder patients were more likely to choose the VR experience and reportedly their anxiety levels decreased.
