Virtual Reality in Hand Pathology Rehabilitation: A Case Series Report
Main Article Content
Keywords
Virtual reality rehabilitation, Hand pathology, Case report, Functional recovery, Pain management
Abstract
Background: This case series uniquely integrates virtual reality (VR) into the rehabilitation of diverse hand pathologies, highlighting its potential to enhance patient engagement and therapeutic outcomes. By combining traditional physical therapy with immersive VR exercises, this study contributes to the scientific literature by demonstrating the broad applicability and effectiveness of VR across different clinical scenarios. Case Presentation: Patients presented with severe pain, swelling, limited range of motion, reduced grip strength, and functional deficits resulting from fractures, congenital anomalies, and chronic inflammatory diseases. Baseline assessments using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, the Patient-Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation (PRWHE), and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain revealed significant impairments. Results: Diagnoses included radius fractures, triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) lesions, functional deficits from Wegener’s vasculitis, wrist fractures, and congenital syndactyly. Therapeutic interventions consisted of standard physical therapy augmented with VR-based rehabilitation using the Oculus Meta Quest 2 and Hand Physics Lab software. Over three months, patients demonstrated significant improvements in functional outcomes and pain reduction, as evidenced by improved DASH, PRWHE, and NRS scores. Adherence to the VR therapy was high, and it was well tolerated with minimal adverse events. Conclusion: This case series demonstrates that VR can serve as a powerful adjunct to traditional rehabilitation methods, offering an effective approach to improve patient outcomes in hand pathology treatment. This innovative strategy enhances patient engagement and motivation, facilitating significant functional recovery and pain management.
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