The benefits of intraoperative virtual reality distraction in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) under spinal anaesthesia.

研究概要

Sixty patients undergoing primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with Lemaire lateral extra‐articular tenodesis (LET) were randomized to standard care (n=30) or identical surgery with intraoperative virtual reality (VR) headset distraction (n=30). The primary outcome was perioperative state anxiety (STAI-Y1). Secondary outcomes included intraoperative sedation and rescue analgesia, adverse events (hypotension/hypoxaemia/nausea), VAS pain and comfort, and staff-rated satisfaction; knee status (SKV) was assessed at one year. Anxiety and VAS measures were collected preoperatively, intraoperatively, immediately post-op, and before discharge. Overall, the results revealed lower intraoperative and immediate postoperative STAI-Y1 scores with VR, alongside less sedation and rescue analgesia, lower early pain, and higher anaesthesia-team satisfaction; complications were similar. These findings suggest VR distraction is a useful non-pharmacologic adjunct to reduce anxiety and medication use during ACLR under spinal anaesthesia.