Virtual Reality in Burn Pain Management

The Use of Virtual Reality Video Games to Control Procedural Pain During Burn Wound Care

To examine the safety and efficacy of Virtual Reality (VR) distraction therapy in burn patients experiencing severe procedural pain during wound care.

This is a prospective, randomized cross-over study of the safety and effectiveness of the use of a virtual reality distraction intervention to management procedural pain during burn wound care. Up to 20 subjects will be enrolled until 12 complete the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years or oler with thermal injury
• Understands English
• patient perception of previous wound care procedural pain is greater than 6 on a numeric pain scal of 0-10 where 0= no pain and 10=worst pain ever experienced
• ability to use a computer mouse or hit the space bar on a computer keyboard

Exclusion Criteria:

• unhealed burned wounds on face, neck or head
• history of severe susceptibility to motion sickness
• presence of open woun ds to the hands that cannot be covered with a dressing while operating the control button
• patients who report a feeling of anxiety or discomfort while viewing the Snow World software on a computer without the helmet