Virtual reality for easing pain and pre-procedure anxiety during sacrococcygeal sacral epidural injections

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This interventional study investigates whether using a virtual reality headset during sacrococcygeal epidural injections for radiculopathy reduces perceived pain and procedure-related anxiety. Participants are adults with recent radicular symptoms undergoing planned injections in a day-hospital setting. The approach leverages distraction and psycho-corporal support to potentially improve tolerability of the procedure. The study compares the patient experience during injections with VR support to a standard approach, focusing on short-term pain and anxiety outcomes. Safety and feasibility of VR use in this procedural context are also assessed.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult patient (age ≥ 18 years)
* Hospitalized in a day-hospitalization department at the General Hospital of Le Mans
* For whom a diagnosis of radiculalgia with a duration of less than 6 months is made, for which the imaging is compatible with the symptoms according to the clinician's interpretation
* For whom the indication of at least 2 epidural injections by the way of the sacrococcygeal hiatus is retained
* Having never experienced an epidural injection through the sacrococcygeal hiatus
* Patient able and willing to answer the auto-administered surveys
* Person affiliated or beneficiary of a social security
* Free, informed and written consent signed by the participant and the investigator (at the latest on the day of inclusion and before any examination required by the research) after oral and written information

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient with comorbidity of epilepsy
* Patient with a contraindication to performing epidural injections through the sacrococcygeal hiatus
* Patient suffering from blindness and / or deafness
* Person with a known significant intolerance towards the use of screens and / or virtual reality devices
* Patient receiving benzodiazepines and / or other sedative treatment
* Patient with a known depressive disease followed by a psychiatrist
* Pregnant, breastfeeding or parturient woman
* Person deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision
* Person under forced psychiatric care
* Person subject to legal protection
* Person unable to express consent
* Patient who had participated in an interventional study during the last 30 days
* Severely impaired physical and / or mental health which, according to the investigator, may affect the compliance of the study participant

Where it's running

• Centre Hospitalier Du Mans
  Le Mans, France Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Christelle JADEAU
• Email: cjadeau@ch-lemans.fr
• Phone: +33244710781

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of cervical disc surgery techniques

  This study is testing which of two surgery options for neck pain from disc problems is more cost-effective and beneficial for patients.

  Recruiting Zuyderland Medisch Centrum · Maastricht, Limburg · NCT04623593

• Gelified radiopaque ethanol for cervical disc herniation in routine care

  This observational study looks at how patients with cervical disc herniation and chronic neck pain fare after treatment with Absolute Gel, used in standard clinical practice.

  Recruiting ASST Brianza - Ospedale di Vimercate · Vimercate, Monza E Brianza · NCT07832929

• AI symptom checks before visiting physical therapy: does it change spine care decisions?

  This study tests whether using AI symptom-checking tools like ChatGPT before a visit affects shared decision-making during the first physical therapy evaluation for adults with neck, back, or radicular spine problems.

  Recruiting Assiut University · Asyut · NCT07733752

• High-Power Laser Therapy for Cervical Radiculopathy: See if it improves neck‑arm pain and disc health

  This study tests whether high‑power laser therapy can improve disc morphology and daily function in adults with cervical radiculopathy.

  Recruiting Cairo University · Cairo · NCT07661290

• Ultrasound-guided Pharmacopuncture for Spinal Pain in Korea

  This registry follows patients with spinal pain to see if ultrasound-guided pharmacopuncture is safe and helps reduce pain.

  Recruiting at 6 sites Jaseng Medical Foundation · Daejeon, Daejeon and 5 other locations · NCT07543692

• Exercise after caudal epidural steroid injection for lumbar disc herniation

  This trial will test whether adding aerobic or core‑stabilisation exercise to standard physiotherapy after a caudal epidural steroid injection helps adults with MRI‑confirmed lumbar disc herniation reduce pain and improve function.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Çankırı Karatekin University · Çankırı and 2 other locations · NCT06956664

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.