Virtual Reality Distraction During Outpatient Pediatric Orthopedic Procedures

Virtual Reality(VR) has had promising applications in science and medicine, including intervention delivery. The use of VR interventions has been studied in a wide range of medical conditions, including anxiety, phobias, obesity, chronic pain, and eating disorders. VR based simulation in pediatrics has grown rapidly in recent years and is expected to continue to grow. VR technology has become increasingly affordable, flexible, and portable, enabling its use in a broad range of environments including the outpatient clinical setting. Additionally, children are believed to have an inclination toward games of "pretend" or alternate realities further indicating the potential of this technology. While immersed in a game, they often become deeply absorbed and able to ignore aversive stimuli. VR is an engaging intervention that may help to detract from pain and anxiety for children undergoing painful procedures. Heart rate has been used as a means to objectively quantify the physiologic response to pain and anxiety. The purpose of the study is to conduct a randomized controlled study that assess the utility of Virtual Reality simulations compared to non immersive visual distraction in pediatric patients undergoing outpatient procedures including cast removal and surgical suture/pins removal. Primary outcomes will include changes in patient heart rate (an age-validated surrogate for pain and anxiety) and patient-reported changes in anxiety and pain. Secondary outcomes will include patient/parent-reported satisfaction.