Use of virtual reality for treating burned children: case reports

Abstract

Objective: To report the use of virtual reality (VR) in pain intensity during dressing change of two burned children hospitalized in a Burn Treatment Center (BTC) in Southern Brazil. Method: Case report on the use of VR during dressing change of two burned children hospitalized in a BTC, from May to July 2016. For assessing pain, a facial pain rating scale was applied at four times: just before the dressing, during the dressing without the use of VR, during the dressing with the VR, and after the use of VR. Results: The use of goggles was easy to apply and well-accepted by the children, and also had a relevant effect reducing pain. Conclusion: VR can become an important nonpharmacological method for treating pain in burned children. Descriptors: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy; Burns; Pediatrics; Burn Units; Pain; Three-dimensional Imaging.RESUMO Objetivo: Relatar a utilização da Realidade Virtual (RV) na diminuição da intensidade dolorosa durante a troca de curativo de duas crianças queimadas internadas em um Centro de Tratamento ao Queimado (CTQ) do Sul do Brasil. Método: Relato de caso da utilização da RV durante a troca de curativos de duas crianças queimadas internadas em um CTQ, de maio a julho de 2016. Para avaliar a dor, foi utilizada escala numérica sobreposta à de faces, sendo aplicada em quatro momentos: imediatamente antes do curativo, durante o curativo sem uso da RV, durante o curativo com a RV e após a utilização da RV. Resultado: O uso dos óculos foi de fácil aplicação e bem aceito pelas crianças, além disso houce efeitos relevantes em relação à diminuição da dor. Conclusão: A RV pode se tornar um importante método não farmacológico no tratamento da dor em crianças queimadas. Descritores: Terapia de Exposição à Realidade Virtual; Queimaduras; Pediatria; Unidades de Queimados; Dor; Imagem Tridimensional. RESUMEN Objetivo: Relatar la utilización de la Realidad Virtual (RV) en disminución de intensidad del dolor durante cambio de vendajes de dos niños quemados, internados en un Centro de Tratamiento del Quemado (CTQ) del Sur de Brasil. Método: Relato de caso de utilización de RV durante cambio de vendajes de dos niños quemados internados en CTQ, de mayo a julio de 2016. Se evaluó el dolor utilizando escala numérica conjuntamente con la de faces, aplicándosela en cuatro momentos: inmediatamente antes del vendaje, durante el vendaje sin utilizar la RV, durante el vendaje utilizando RV y luego de la utilización de la RV. Resultado: El uso de los visores fue simple y bien recibido por los niños; además, hubo efectos relevantes en relación a la disminución del dolor. Conclusión: La RV puede constituir un importante método no farmacológico para el tratamiento del dolor en niños quemados.

Adjunctive virtual reality for procedural pain management of burn patients during dressing change or physical therapy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…There were 11 case reports/series regarding the application of VR among burn patients going through wound care or physical therapy sessions. VR demonstrated a pain‐reducing effect in 9 of the 11 studies . In the other two reports, VR was used to deliver hypnotic analgesia; in these studies, VR was effective and made hypnosis less effortful.…”

Immersive Virtual Reality as Analgesia during Dressing Changes of Hospitalized Children and Adolescents with Burns: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

“…The study of van Twillert et al (2007) [ 59 ] included 19 participants between 8 and 65 years, so that we only extracted data of participants <18 years (n = 6). The other seven studies included participants aged between 5 and 17 years [ 8 , 9 , 13 , 28 , 31 , 60 , 61 ]. Of these eight studies, four studies [ 9 , 13 , 31 , 61 ] were included in the meta-analysis.…”

“…Failure to sufficiently handle this pain results in physical and psychological effects [ 8 ]. Unfortunately, pain management during dressing change is often insufficient with the traditional methods, resulting in anxiety in children and their parents [ 9 ].…”

“…Unfortunately, pain management during dressing change is often insufficient with the traditional methods, resulting in anxiety in children and their parents [ 9 ]. Other psychological effects include depression and (posttraumatic) stress disorder [ 8 ]. Regarding the negative somatic effects, studies documented that pain blunts wound healing [ 10 , 11 ].…”

“…Interestingly, distraction interventions as adjuvant therapies—together with opioids—hold the promise to decrease pain and anxiety in burn patients [ 8 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. There are various types of distraction, with a range of passive (e.g., watching television or listening to music) or active (e.g., interactive toys, electronic games, or immersive technology) techniques [ 18 ].…”