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Fractures, BoneNCT03903510

Virtual Reality During Pediatric Cast Removal

A study testing Virtual Reality (VR) in people with Fractures, Bone, run by Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This study is a randomized control trial of Virtual Reality during cast removal procedures at a pediatric tertiary care center. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 4 to 12 years
Conditions the study is for
Fractures, Bone
What is being tested?
Virtual Reality (VR)
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
184 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
21 May 2019to Sep 2021
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 4 to 12 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Sustained a fracture in their arm/leg
  • No previous experience with a cast removal
  • Must have at least one wrist free of immobilization (for heart rate monitor)
  • Parents and patient are English speaking

Who cannot join

  • Patients with a history of epilepsy, ventricular shunt, motion sickness
  • Patients with any history of cognitive, visual or hearing impairment

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare

    Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55101

    Andrew G Georgiadis, MD, 651-602-3262, andrewgeorgiadis@gillettechildrens.com

    Christine K Santa Ana, BS, 651-229-1763, ChristineKSantaAna@gillettechildrens.com

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Randomized Control Trial of Virtual Reality to Reduce Anxiety During Pediatric Cast Removal

This study is a randomized control trial of Virtual Reality during cast removal procedures at a pediatric tertiary care center.

Read the detailed description

Cast removal is a common outpatient procedure and is a source of pain and anxiety for children. Children are often frightened by the appearance and the noise of the saw. Additionally, the saw blade can become warm, and this can be uncomfortable. Multiple methods have been used and studied to try to make this experience easier for children. These methods include: soft music, therapeutic play, and headphones. Virtual reality (VR) devices are now increasingly affordable and portable. VR could be a way to distract children from the appearance and sound of the procedure. VR has been used in other clinical settings to help patients with the anxiety associated with medical procedures. The investigators propose a randomized trial to assess the responses (e.g. questionnaires and monitors) of children to cast removal with VR versus the standard noise reduction headphones.

Conditions
Fractures, Bone
Being tested
Virtual Reality (VR)
Keywords
Virtual Reality, Cast removal, Fracture
Medical subject headings
Fractures, Bone

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Virtual Reality (VR)Device

    Also called AppliedVR

    Participants in the experimental group will receive an AppliedVR virtual reality headset during their cast removal.

Study groups in NCT03903510
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Virtual RealityExperimentalParticipants will experience Virtual Reality during their cast removal
Receives: Device: Virtual Reality (VR)
Standard of careNo interventionParticipants will receive their usual standard of care treatment during cast removal

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change from baseline heart rate during cast removal procedure

    The change from baseline heart rate during cast removal procedure obtained by using an electronic monitoring wristband and measuring heart rate 15 seconds prior to and continuously during the cast removal procedure.

    Measured: Heart rate will be measured during the cast removal procedure. As this is a single visit study, heart rate will not be measured at any other time periods throughout the study.

Secondary outcomes (8)
  1. Change in Parent Reported Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale Rating

    Parent reported pain scale that is rated from 0 (minimum) to 10 (maximum), where a higher number indicates increased pain.

    Measured: The Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale assessment will be collected 1 minute prior to and immediately after cast removal.This is a single visit study and the assessment will not be measured at any other time periods.

  2. Change in Patient Reported Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale Rating

    Patient reported pain scale that is rated on a scale of 0 (minimum) to 10 (maximum), where a higher number indicates increased pain.

    Measured: The Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale assessment will be collected 1 minute prior to and immediately after cast removal.This is a single visit study and the assessment will not be measured at any other time periods.

  3. Visual Analog Scale (VAS): Parental anxiety during cast removal

    Parental anxiety will be self reported using a 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum) scale, where a higher number indicates increased anxiety.

    Measured: The VAS anxiety assessment will be performed immediately after the cast removal procedure, which is expected to last 5-10 minutes.This is a single visit study and the assessment will not be measured at any other time periods.

  4. Visual Analog Scale (VAS): Patient anxiety during cast removal

    Patient anxiety regarding the cast removal will be self reported using a 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum) scale, where a higher number indicates increased anxiety.

    Measured: The VAS anxiety assessment will be performed immediately after the cast removal procedure, which is expected to last 5-10 minutes.This is a single visit study and the assessment will not be measured at any other time periods.

  5. Visual Analog Scale (VAS): Parental Satisfaction

    Parental satisfaction regarding the cast removal will be self reported using a 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum) scale, where a higher number indicates increased satisfaction.

    Measured: The VAS parental satisfaction assessment will be performed immediately after the cast removal procedure, which is expected to last 5-10 minutes.This is a single visit study and the assessment will not be measured at any other time periods.

  6. Visual Analog Scale (VAS): Parental Assessment of Pleasantness

    Parental report of how pleasant the cast removal was. Self reported using a 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum) scale, where a higher number indicates increased pleasantness.

    Measured: The VAS parental satisfaction assessment will be performed immediately after the cast removal procedure, which is expected to last 5-10 minutes.This is a single visit study and the assessment will not be measured at any other time periods.

  7. Visual Analog Scale (VAS): Parent Reported Worst Pain During Treatment

    Parental report of the highest level of pain experienced by the child during the cast removal. Reported using a 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum) scale, where a higher number indicates increased pain.

    Measured: The VAS parental worst pain assessment will be performed immediately after the cast removal procedure, which is expected to last 5-10 minutes.This is a single visit study and the assessment will not be measured at any other time periods.

  8. Visual Analog Scale (VAS): Patient Reported Worst Pain During Treatment

    Patient report of the highest level of pain experienced by the child during the cast removal. Reported using a 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum) scale, where a higher number indicates increased pain.

    Measured: The VAS patient worst pain assessment will be performed immediately after the cast removal procedure, which is expected to last 5-10 minutes.This is a single visit study and the assessment will not be measured at any other time periods.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted4 Apr 2019
  2. Study start21 May 2019
  3. Primary completionSep 2021 (estimated)
  4. Study completionSep 2021 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
184 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03903510
Sponsor's protocol ID
STUDY00005315
Status last verified
Feb 2021
First submitted
27 Mar 2019
Last updated
11 Feb 2021
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Naranje SM, Erali RA, Warner WC Jr, Sawyer JR, Kelly DM. Epidemiology of Pediatric Fractures Presenting to Emergency Departments in the United States. J Pediatr Orthop. 2016 Jun;36(4):e45-8. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000000595.

    PubMed 26177059
  • Wiggins CE, Brown KD. Hearing protection and cast saw noise. J South Orthop Assoc. 1996 Spring;5(1):1-4.

    PubMed 8673584
  • Katz K, Fogelman R, Attias J, Baron E, Soudry M. Anxiety reaction in children during removal of their plaster cast with a saw. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2001 Apr;83(3):388-90. doi: 10.1302/0301-620x.83b3.10487.

    PubMed 11341425
  • Post JM, Switzer KD, Brown DK, Meinzen-Derr J, Dively J, Dunkin BS, Mehlman CT. Cast saw noise does not reach occupational hazard levels. J Pediatr Orthop. 2013 Jul-Aug;33(5):580-4. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0b013e318288b5e4.

    PubMed 23752160
  • Liu RW, Mehta P, Fortuna S, Armstrong DG, Cooperman DR, Thompson GH, Gilmore A. A randomized prospective study of music therapy for reducing anxiety during cast room procedures. J Pediatr Orthop. 2007 Oct-Nov;27(7):831-3. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0b013e3181558a4e.

    PubMed 17878794
  • Wong CL, Ip WY, Kwok BMC, Choi KC, Ng BKW, Chan CWH. Effects of therapeutic play on children undergoing cast-removal procedures: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2018 Jul 5;8(7):e021071. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021071.

    PubMed 29980545
  • Carmichael KD, Westmoreland J. Effectiveness of ear protection in reducing anxiety during cast removal in children. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2005 Jan;34(1):43-6.

    PubMed 15707139
  • Mahan ST, Harris MS, Lierhaus AM, Miller PE, DiFazio RL. Noise Reduction to Reduce Patient Anxiety During Cast Removal: Can We Decrease Patient Anxiety With Cast Removal by Wearing Noise Reduction Headphones During Cast Saw Use? Orthop Nurs. 2017 Jul/Aug;36(4):271-278. doi: 10.1097/NOR.0000000000000365.

    PubMed 28737634
  • Hoffmann C. COX-2 in brain and spinal cord implications for therapeutic use. Curr Med Chem. 2000 Nov;7(11):1113-20. doi: 10.2174/0929867003374282.

    PubMed 11032961
  • Gold JI, Kim SH, Kant AJ, Joseph MH, Rizzo AS. Effectiveness of virtual reality for pediatric pain distraction during i.v. placement. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2006 Apr;9(2):207-12. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2006.9.207.

    PubMed 16640481
  • Asl Aminabadi N, Erfanparast L, Sohrabi A, Ghertasi Oskouei S, Naghili A. The Impact of Virtual Reality Distraction on Pain and Anxiety during Dental Treatment in 4-6 Year-Old Children: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. J Dent Res Dent Clin Dent Prospects. 2012 Fall;6(4):117-24. doi: 10.5681/joddd.2012.025. Epub 2012 Nov 12.

    PubMed 23277857
  • Nilsson S, Finnstrom B, Kokinsky E. The FLACC behavioral scale for procedural pain assessment in children aged 5-16 years. Paediatr Anaesth. 2008 Aug;18(8):767-74. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2008.02655.x.

    PubMed 18613934
  • Steele E, Grimmer K, Thomas B, Mulley B, Fulton I, Hoffman H. Virtual reality as a pediatric pain modulation technique: a case study. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2003 Dec;6(6):633-8. doi: 10.1089/109493103322725405.

    PubMed 14756928
  • Hoffman HG, Doctor JN, Patterson DR, Carrougher GJ, Furness TA 3rd. Virtual reality as an adjunctive pain control during burn wound care in adolescent patients. Pain. 2000 Mar;85(1-2):305-9. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3959(99)00275-4.

    PubMed 10692634
  • Hoffman HG, Patterson DR, Carrougher GJ. Use of virtual reality for adjunctive treatment of adult burn pain during physical therapy: a controlled study. Clin J Pain. 2000 Sep;16(3):244-50. doi: 10.1097/00002508-200009000-00010.

    PubMed 11014398

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Virtual Reality (VR) in people with Fractures, Bone, run by Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Feb 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Andrew G Georgiadis, MD (651-602-3262, andrewgeorgiadis@gillettechildrens.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change from baseline heart rate during cast removal procedure (time frame: Heart rate will be measured during the cast removal procedure. As this is a single visit study, heart rate will not be measured at any other time periods throughout the study.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03903510, which also lists 19 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Feb 2021; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 4 Nov 2026.

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