lunes, 5 de septiembre de 2011

Virtual Reality Game Helps Burn Victims | Medical News and Health Information

Reported September 7, 2011
 

Vertial Reality Game Helps Burn Victims -- Research Summary

BACKGROUND: In the United States, approximately 2.4 million burn injuries are reported per year. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 have major burns involving at least 25 percent of their total body surface. Between 8,000 and 12,000 of patients with burns die, and approximately 1 million will sustain substantial or permanent disabilities resulting from their burn injury.

(SOURCE: Journal of Burn Care & Rehabilitation)

TYPES: There are three levels of burns:
• First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of the skin. They cause pain, redness, and swelling.
• Second-degree (partial thickness) burns affect both the outer and underlying layer of skin. They cause pain, redness, swelling, and blistering.
• Third-degree (full thickness) burns extend into deeper tissues. They cause white or blackened, charred skin that may be numb. (SOURCE: Mayo Clinic)

LIFESTYLE: Burns are one of the most expensive catastrophic injuries to treat. For example, a burn of 30 percent of total body area can cost as much as $200,000 in initial hospitalization costs and for physician's fees. For extensive burns, there are additional significant costs, which will include costs for repeat admission for reconstruction and for rehabilitation.

CHILLING DISCOVERY: The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR) Burn Center in San Antonio, Texas is collaborating with researchers at the University of Washington to investigate whether a new virtual reality game called “Snow World” can help lessen the pain of treatment for combat burns.

Snow World is a virtual reality system that lets users walk through wintry environments and lob snowballs at stationary targets. The cool imagery and immersive game play are proving in early tests to be a viable alternative to strong drugs that leave patients dazed and disconnected. The previous research showed that not only do patients report less pain while playing Snow World, but fMRI scans also show that virtual reality reduces the brain’s pain signals.
Because Snow World has been so effective with burn patients, the researchers hope to make the virtual reality game part of everyday practice. For use with combat veterans, who may have burns on their heads and faces, they built an articulated arm to position the VR goggles the patients use, instead of having to wear a helmet. (SOURCE: Science Central) MORE
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Dr. Christopher V. Maani
U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research
Christopher.Maani@us.army.mil
 

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Virtual Reality Game Helps Burn Victims Medical News and Health Information

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