Virtual reality reduces intraoperative anxiety and pain in adult oral surgery patients
Photo by Bermix Studio / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Consider virtual reality for intraoperative anxiety/pain in oral surgery, but evidence needs stronger RCTs.
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of virtual reality interventions for managing intraoperative anxiety and pain during oral surgical procedures in adult patients. The analysis included 9 articles, though the specific comparator conditions were not reported. The primary outcomes were intraoperative anxiety and pain, with follow-up occurring during the surgical procedures.
Virtual reality interventions showed statistically significant reductions in both outcomes. For intraoperative anxiety, the standardized mean difference was -0.26 (95% CI: -0.48 to -0.03, P < .05). For intraoperative pain, the effect was larger with an SMD of -0.67 (95% CI: -1.08 to -0.26, P < .01). Absolute numbers for these reductions were not reported in the meta-analysis.
Safety and tolerability data were not reported in the available evidence. The authors identified a key limitation: the need for more high-quality, multicenter, and large-sample randomized controlled trials to strengthen the evidence base. The practice relevance is that this analysis confirms the potential value of virtual reality for distracting adult patients from intraoperative anxiety and pain in oral surgery settings, though clinicians should recognize this demonstrates association rather than proven causality.
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View Original Abstract ↓
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of virtual reality interventions in alleviating intraoperative pain and anxiety among adult patients undergoing oral surgical procedures.
STUDY DESIGN: From the database's creation until Feb 2, 2025, a thorough search was carried out across 13 electronic databases. Anxiety and pain throughout the procedure were important outcomes. The combined impacts were assessed using a random-effects model, with subgroup analyses looking into possible contributing variables. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 method.
RESULTS: A total of 9 articles were eventually included in the study selection. Results of the meta-analysis reveal a statistically significant effect of virtual reality in reducing intraoperative anxiety in adults undergoing oral surgery (SMD = -0.26, 95% CI: (-0.48, -0.03), P < .05). Statistically significant effect in reducing intraoperative pain in adult oral surgery (SMD= -0.67, 95% CI: (-1.08, -0.26), P < .01).
CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis confirms the value of virtual reality in terms of oral surgery by distracting adult patients from intraoperative anxiety and pain. However, more high-quality, multicenter, and large-sample randomized controlled trials are needed to further assess its clinical value in the future.
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