The Effect of Virtual Reality on Pulmonary Recovery and Mobility in Patients With Blunt Chest Trauma (VIREX PURE)

Radboud University Medical Center

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Blunt Chest Trauma

Treatments: Device: Virtual Reality

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05194176

112814

Details and patient eligibility

About

Blunt chest trauma comprises over 10% of all trauma patients presenting to emergency departments worldwide and is the most frequent injury in polytrauma patients. It is associated with high risk (>10%) of pulmonary complications such as pneumonia. Pillars of treatment are adequate pain relief, respiratory function exercises and rapid mobilisation through physiotherapy. Inadequate pain control can result in restricted ventilatory function and in reduced mobility, both resulting in a higher risk of particularly pulmonary complications. Virtual Reality (VR) might be an easy to use, individualized, and harmless technique that can facilitate pulmonary recovery and aid in the prevention of complications through reducing pain and promoting exercising. The investigators hypothesize that VR improves respiratory function and mobilisation in the post-acute phase of blunt chest trauma by distracting patients from pain and stress, and by stimulating pulmonary and physical exercise.

Enrollment: 27 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Admitted to the trauma ward with sustained blunt chest trauma
• Age≥16
• Patient is willing and able to comply with the study protocol

Exclusion criteria

• Neurotrauma with GCS ≤13
• History of dementia, seizures, epilepsy
• Severe hearing/visual impairment not corrected
• Head wounds or damaged skin with which comfortable and hygienic use is not possible.
• Stay at intensive care unit (ICU) during current hospital admission.
• Erect position in bed not possible/allowed.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

27 participants in 2 patient groups

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group will receive usual care. Patients will be instructed to perform respiratory exercises 8 times daily for 10 minutes and to extend these exercises 2 times daily with (sitting) physical exercises for an additional 10 minutes. Respiratory exercises include using incentive spirometry and exercises for deep breathing, huffing and coughing. Patients receive a leaflet with the exercises described and the exercises will be performed once daily under supervision of a physiotherapist. The other sessions will be unsupervised.

Virtual Reality

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention group will be instructed to perform the respiratory exercises using the VR-intervention 8 times daily for 10 minutes and to extend these exercises 2 times daily with (sitting) physical exercises for an additional 10 minutes. The respiratory exercises in VR are comparable to the exercises in usual care but performed in a virtual environment and without incentive spirometry. The physical exercises consist of several games through which patients are challenged to reach out to objects while engaging their core. Patients are allowed to continue these exercises or play some relaxation games for up to 30 minutes per session in total. The exercises will be performed once daily under supervision of a physiotherapist. The other sessions will be unsupervised.

Treatment:

Device: Virtual Reality