Download Virtual Reality Analgesia for Pediatric Burn Survivors

Virtual Reality Analgesia for Pediatric Burn Survivors
Using a virtual reality video game, Shriners Hospitals for
Children® — Galveston is helping to reduce pain experienced
by children with severe burn injuries during wound care.
Patients typically experience significant pain during wound
care and dressing changes. Necrotic tissue sloughing from
the healing area requires frequent cleaning to prevent
infection. During these daily visits to the tub room,
bandages, staples, dead tissue and other debris are removed
from the open wound areas, antiseptic ointments are
applied, and the wounds are bandaged with clean dressings.
The current standard of care utilizes an opioid analgesic
which is effective in controlling patients’ pain while they rest
motionlessly, but in stark contrast, pain and anxiety during
burn wound debridement is difficult to achieve in many
patients due to limitations of pain medications including side effects at higher doses.
Researchers at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Galveston are
measuring whether playing the animated virtual reality game
“Snow World” is helpful in distracting patients during wound care.
The research team, under the direction of Dr. Walter Meyer,
believes that due to drawing children’s attention into a virtual and
three-dimensional world, less attention will be available to
process incoming pain signals. As a result, children with severe
burn injuries may experience up to 35-40 percent less pain and
discomfort during daily baths and wound dressing changes. A
benefit of using virtual reality is reducing anxiety levels that
patients feel before and during each virtual reality wound care
session. virtual reality may also improve patient cooperation with
the wound care nurse during wound debridement.
The virtual reality system has been previously tested with burn survivors while receiving physical and
occupational therapy and has produced positive outcomes in recovery. Shriners Hospitals for Children
— Galveston is the only pediatric burn center currently utilizing a virtual reality system.
About Shriners Hospitals for Children® — Galveston
Designated by the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons Committee on
Trauma as a verified pediatric burn care center, Shriners Hospitals for Children — Galveston provides
highly specialized acute, reconstructive and rehabilitative care for children with burns and other soft
tissue conditions. Inpatient and outpatient units are designed to allow children to recover in a safe,
family-centered environment along the continuum of their care. The world-class physicians, clinicians,
and researchers are committed to continuously provide advanced burn care and treatment to children
from all over the world.
Since Shriners Hospitals for Children — Galveston entered the burn care field in 1966, the survival rate
of children with burns over more than 50 percent of their body surface has doubled. Today, patients
with burns over 90 percent of their body can survive and go on to lead full, productive lives thanks to
the cutting-edge clinical care, research, and education at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Galveston.
815 Market Street • Galveston, Texas 77550
www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/galveston
Patient Referrals: 888-215-3109 409-770-6773 (Emergency)