Virtual Reality for Anxiolysis During Laceration Repair in the Pediatric Emergency Room

A Feasibility Study for the Use of Virtual Reality to Reduce Procedural Anxiety for Children Undergoing Laceration Repair in the Pediatric Emergency Room

The investigators propose a pilot study to examine the feasibility of utilizing immersive virtual reality to reduce procedural anxiety in children undergoing non-facial laceration repair in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

The investigators hypothesize that virtual reality will be well-received by patients and their caregivers, and that the anxiety provoked by laceration repair will be mitigated by the immersive virtual reality experience.

Inclusion Criteria:

• children 5-13 years of age
• present to ED during the study period with non-facial lacerations
• patient to undergo wound closure with sutures

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with lacerations on the head/face
• Patients with lacerations sustained in conjunction with loss of consciousness, altered mental status, life-threatening injuries/illness or multi-trauma
• Patients who sustained a laceration in conjunction with an open fracture
• Patients with open skin, lice, scabies, or other infectious skin conditions on the head/face
• Patients with a history of or current symptoms of vertigo
• Patients who are blind
• Patients with significant developmental or cognitive delays who may not be able to engage with or tolerate the virtual reality environment, as determined by their parent/caregiver
• Patients on whom the VR headset does not fit appropriately
• Non-English speaking patients will be excluded from this study (we do not have funds available to translate the study documents into other languages)