Medical application of virtual reality (VR)

The use of virtual reality or 3D visualisation technology is of course not new. 3D models of, for example, patients' organs have been used since the 1990s. But advancements in the field of computers ensure that the images can be made much more realistic - and much faster

X-ray images, CT and MRI scans can now be converted into high-resolution 3D images within a minute, according to Sergio Agirre, CTO of EchoPixel. This company's visualisation software is used in hospitals worldwide. "Twenty years ago, something like this might have taken a week."

Some surgical procedures, such as removing an appendix or performing a Caesarean section, can be done relatively routinely - one case is very similar to another. But other, complicated procedures, think of separating Siamese twins, pose challenges that require precise planning. It is especially for these challenging interventions that 3D visualisation proves its enormous value

Just recently, VR played a crucial role in successfully separating a pair of Siamese twins. At the Masonic Children's Hospital in Minneapolis (USA), there was a three-month-old twin who was fused together in a much more complicated way than others, with intricate connections between the heart and liver. Operating and separating this twin was, of course, very difficult and even dangerous for the twins

VR technology is also used by vascular specialists. Using interactive 3D visualisations, surgeons can prepare well for procedures such as treating an aneurysm or blocked veins. One of the advantages is that they can already estimate which measures and actions will yield the best results

Where doctors use VR equipment, patients do as well. They, for example, use headsets to immerse themselves in a virtual world that helps them focus on other things than medical problems and treatments

Because anaesthesia or sedation can pose risks for some patients, more and more hospitals are offering VR headsets to their patients, in order to control pain during less severe procedures. At the moment this is still experimental, but the results so far are positive

In the same way, VR appears to help reduce anxiety in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Similarly with children, where it helps to reduce anxiety during injections or other treatments

You look through the VR goggles and can virtually walk through the structure and thereby Exactly see what you all need have while performing the surgery

Burn patients are perhaps the most benefited by VR technology. The daily cleaning and wrapping of burns or performing skin grafting are some of the most painful procedures. Pain medication helps, but often not enough

For these patients, the VR game "SnowWorld" has been developed. Dr. Hunter Hoffman, a scientist at the University of Washington with expertise in the use of VR for pain relief, says: "This game contains images specifically designed to distract burn patients from their pain." People who play this game during treatment, according to research, have up to 50% less pain. Other research shows that playing this game results in changes in patients' brains that show they experience less pain

The VR game SnowWorld developed by Hoffman is currently being tested in four locations in the United States and in two other countries. Although VR should not be seen as a replacement for pain relief, the developers believe that medication and VR combined can be extremely effective. VR is also being widely experimented with for pain relief in the Netherlands. Medical organisations such as Radboudumc and the burns centre of the Martini Hospital use VR glasses and are researching the application of VR for pain relief during endoscopic examinations and procedures. The initial indications from this research suggest that indeed less sedation is needed in patients who use a VR headset

Virtual reality also aids patients who struggle with balance and mobility problems as a result of a stroke or head injuries

A new European consortium, led by the Sint Maartenskliniek, is receiving € 2.4 million for the development of Virtual Reality (VR) applications in rehabilitation trajectories. The Interreg North-West Europe programme awarded the so-called VR4REHAB project for this purpose. This project will bring together companies, universities, and rehabilitation clinics over the next three years to develop and research VR applications that improve rehabilitation treatments and speed up the recovery process.


With VR, I can monitor everything that happens around a patient and know what influence has on patients' ability to change

Research shows that the use of VR in rehabilitation greatly speeds up the process. Patients regain their physical skills sooner. The initial results are very positive. A study in people who have had a stroke showed that the use of VR led to better movement of the arm and hand after four weeks of therapy. After two months, these patients also showed better mobility. Other research in patients with cerebral palsy showed similar better outcomes

"The power of VR in therapy is that you really work with how people see the world," Keshner explains. "They learn how to react. And after practising in the virtual world, they are much more confident and better able to do that in the real world."