Virtual Reality Improves Patient Experience and Anxiety During In-office Carpal Tunnel Release.

ABSTRACT:

Background

This study examined how wide- awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) surgery in the office versus the standard operating room (OR) impacts patient experience, and the effect wide awake virtual reality (WAVR) has in conjunction with WALANT on patient experience.

Methods

This is a patient-reported outcome study of patients undergoing carpal tunnel release by a single surgeon between August 2017 and March 2021. Patients were classified by location; traditional OR versus WALANT in-office. In-office patients were further classified by whether they chose to use WAVR or not. Patients rated overall experience, enjoyability, and anxiety using a Likert scale (1-7).

Results

The online survey had a 44.8% response rate. OR patients were twice as likely to report

SUBMITTER: Miller MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9278931 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature