Publications by authors named "Dana Nakamura"

This randomized, controlled, within-subjects (crossover design) study examined the effects of immersive virtual reality as an adjunctive analgesic technique for hospitalized pediatric burn inpatients undergoing painful physical therapy. Fifty-four subjects (6-19 years old) performed range-of-motion exercises under a therapist's direction for 1-5 days. During each session, subjects spent equivalent time in both the virtual reality and the control conditions (treatment order randomized and counterbalanced).

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Few studies have empirically investigated the effects of immersive virtual reality (VR) on postburn physical therapy pain control and range of motion (ROM). We performed a prospective, randomized controlled study of the effects of adding VR to standard therapy in adults receiving active-assisted ROM physical therapy, by assessing pain scores and maximal joint ROM immediately before and after therapy on two consecutive days. Thirty-nine inpatients, aged 21 to 57 years (mean 35 years), with a mean TBSA burn of 18% (range, 3-60%) were studied using a within-subject, crossover design.

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Burn rehabilitation is an essential component of successful patient care. In May 2008, a group of burn rehabilitation clinicians met to discuss the status and future needs of burn rehabilitation. Fifteen topic areas pertinent to clinical burn rehabilitation were addressed.

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Article Synopsis
  • Burn rehabilitation has been a long-standing component of burn care, but outcomes for patients with severe burns have stagnated despite high survival rates.
  • The article highlights the need for improvements in rehabilitation practices to ensure that patient well-being matches survival statistics.
  • It also examines current interventions, challenges in the field, and the necessity for the medical community to prioritize advancements in burn rehabilitation.
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Objective: To assess the efficacy and side effects of immersive virtual reality (VR) distraction analgesia, as well as patient factors associated with VR analgesic efficacy in burn patients who require passive range-of-motion (ROM) physical therapy (PT).

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled, within-subject trials.

Setting: Regional level I burn center in a university-affiliated urban hospital.

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Although excision and grafting of burns has become common and standard, many surgeons have been reluctant to excise and graft face burns. In fact, we could find photographic results at 1 year after grafting of only eight patients in the English literature. We began excision and grafting of face burns in 1979 and presented our first 16 patients in 1986 in this journal.

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