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Virtual reality could rewire the mind for better spine surgery recovery

NCT ID NCT07777679

Symptom relief Sponsor: University of California, Irvine Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Aug 20, 2026 · Last updated Aug 25, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This trial tests whether an 8-week virtual reality-based cognitive behavioral therapy (VR-CBT) program, done at home before elective spine surgery, can improve recovery and quality of life. Adults scheduled for spinal fusion will be randomly assigned to receive VR-CBT plus usual care or usual care alone. Researchers will track pain, physical function, mood, and disability for 12 months after surgery to see if the VR program makes a difference.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Virtual reality-based cognitive behavioral therapy (VR-CBT) prehabilitation
What this could lead to
If effective, this approach could offer a non-drug way to prepare patients for spine surgery, potentially improving pain, function, and mood after the operation.
What could go wrong
This is a small pilot study, so results may not be definitive. The intervention requires consistent home use of a VR headset, and not everyone may find it helpful or comfortable.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 80 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Sep 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Nov 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 75 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria * Adults between 18 and 75 years old. * Diagnosis of thoracolumbar adult spinal deformity (ASD), including but not limited to adult scoliosis, kyphosis, or spondylolisthesis, confirmed radiographically using SRS-Schwab classification criteria. * Scheduled for elective spinal surgery involving fusion of more than four spinal levels. * Moderate to severe chronic pain, assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). * Ability to participate in an 8-week preoperative prehabilitation program. * Adequate cognitive functioning and English language skills to engage in CBT or VR-CBT treatments. * Ability to provide written informed consent and adhere to study procedures and follow-up visits. Exclusion Criteria * Neurological conditions that significantly impact cognition or mobility. * Active spinal infection, malignancy, or significant spinal trauma. * Unmanaged medical conditions that could affect participation in the study. * Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant during the study period. * Severe visual impairment, claustrophobia, or other conditions that prevent safe use of VR technology. * Cognitive impairment preventing adherence to study procedures. * History of non-compliance with medical treatment or failure to adhere to study visits and follow-up.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

lumbar spinal stenosis spondylosis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Degenerative spine disease Spinal stenosis lumbar

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian (Hoag Hospital Newport Beach)

    Newport Beach, California, 92663, United States

  • UCI Health - Orthopaedic Spine Center (Wen Center for Advanced Care)

    Irvine, California, 92617, United States

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