Effect of Virtual Reality on Pain and Anxiety During Epidural Steroid Injection in Patients with Lumbar Radicular Pain: An Open-Label Randomized Trial.

ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: Virtual reality (VR) has been shown to reduce pain and anxiety in several specialties, but has not been investigated in the setting of steroid injections in rheumatology. We aimed to assess the impact of using a VR headset on pain and anxiety during epidural steroid injection via the sacral hiatus for lumbar radiculopathy. Methods: Patients received two injections via the sacral hiatus and were randomized into one of two groups: group 1 used the VR headset during the first injection and not during the second injection, while group 2 used the VR headset during the second injection but not the first. The primary endpoint was pain evaluated on a numeric rating scale. Secondary objectives were anxiety, measured using the STAI (State Trait Anxiety Inventory)

SUBMITTER: Javelot M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12470148 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature