Background and Significance: The number of lumbar spinal fusion patients increases each year nationwide. The amount of opioid pain medication used can affect the outcomes, patient satisfaction, and quality of recovery. In this project, emphasis was placed on implementing and using non-pharmaceutical interventions to assist in the management of postoperative pain. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to implement the use of virtual reality to supplement the current postoperative care protocol to minimize the length of stay, increase pain control, and lower opioid usage. Methods: The project was implemented in a neurological unit at a midwestern trauma two hospital. All patients admitted after lumbar spinal fusion surgery performed by the employed neurosurgeons were included in the intervention. Evaluation: Pain scores, length of stay, readmission rates, and morphine milligram equivalencies were documented and compared to patients who had undergone similar surgical procedures before the addition of postoperative virtual reality.
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