Immersive virtual reality in orthopaedics—a narrative review

Purpose This narrative review explores the applications and benefits of immersive virtual reality (VR) in orthopaedics, with a focus on surgical training, patient functional recovery, and pain management. Methods The review examines existing literature and research studies on immersive VR in orthopaedics, analyzing both experimental and clinical studies. Results Immersive VR provides a realistic simulation environment for orthopaedic surgery training, enhancing surgical skills, reducing errors, and improving overall performance. In post-surgical recovery and rehabilitation, immersive VR environments can facilitate motor learning and functional recovery through virtual embodiment, motor imagery during action observation, and virtual training. Additionally VR-based functional recovery programs can improve patient adherence and outcomes. Moreover, VR has the potential to revolutionize pain management, offering a non-invasive, drug-free alternative. Virtual reality analgesia acts by a variety of means including engagement and diverting patients’ attention, anxiety reduction, and specific virtual-body transformations. Conclusion Immersive virtual reality holds significant promise in orthopaedics, demonstrating potential for improved surgical training, patient functional recovery, and pain management but further research is needed to fully exploit the benefits of VR technology in these areas.