VR-Based Preoperative Rehabilitation Program for Patients Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction

The Application of a Preoperative Rehabilitation Program Based on Virtual Reality (VR) Technology in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction

Between April 2, 2024, and October 1, 2024, a study will be conducted at the Department of Orthopedics in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College involving 120 patients who will undergo anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery. They will be randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group.

The control group will receive standard nursing care, while the experimental group will receive an enhanced preoperative rehabilitation program incorporating Virtual Reality (VR) technology. This program will include patient assessments, personalized exercise prescriptions, and VR-based educational videos covering psychological support, nutritional guidance, and exercise instructions.

Patients in the experimental group will use VR headsets for preoperative and postoperative interactive training sessions, as well as for viewing postoperative educational videos. The intervention will start upon admission and will continue until discharge.

Primary outcome measures will include knee joint range of motion and the Lysholm knee function score. Secondary measures will encompass anxiety, depression, pain scores, activities of daily living, time to ambulation, postoperative complications, and patient satisfaction.

Statistical analysis will be conducted to compare outcomes between the two groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals eligible for inclusion in the study are those who undergo their initial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery, aged between 18 and 60 years, possess adequate hearing and vision, have clear consciousness, and demonstrate proficient language communication skills.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with cognitive impairments, severe hearing or vision impairments, limb paralysis, or non-compliance with the experiment will be excluded from participation.