Surgery can be a complex and unfamiliar process for many people, and the uncertainty of what will happen during the procedure and what the outcome will be can lead to feelings of apprehension and anxiety.

A recent study, from Michigan State University, found that patients who underwent wide-awake surgery while immersed in virtual reality reported experiencing more joy and less anxiety compared to those who had the same procedure in a traditional operating room environment.

“For patients immersed in the VR experience, we definitely saw an increase in joy,” the researchers explain. “And for patients with an anxiety disorder, we saw decreased anxiety and their joy levels significantly increased.”

Comparing experiences

To compare the experience of patients undergoing carpal tunnel release surgery, the researchers conducted a retrospective study involving 404 patients who received the procedure at three locations in Michigan between August 2017 and March 2021. The study compared patients who had the traditional surgery in a hospital under monitored anesthesia or general anesthetic with those who had the surgery while awake, using local anesthesia, and with the option of virtual reality immersion in an office environment.

Results from the study showed that patients who underwent traditional surgery in an operating room were twice as likely to report a neutral or negative experience compared to patients who had the awake surgery (23% versus 11%). Additionally, patients who had traditional surgery reported significantly lower enjoyment scores (44% versus 20%) and higher anxiety levels (42% versus 26%).

Furthermore, patients who had the awake surgery in an office setting and chose to use virtual reality reported higher enjoyment scores than those who did not use VR (85% versus 73%). Patients with an anxiety disorder were more likely to choose the VR experience, and when they did, they reported decreased anxiety (79% versus 47%) and increased enjoyment (90% versus 59%).