title: Smartphone use in neurosurgery? APP-solutely!
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A number of smartphone medical apps have recently emerged that may be helpful for the neurosurgical patient, practitioner, and trainee. This study aims to review the current neurosurgery-focused apps available for the iPhone, iPad, and Android platforms as of December 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two of the most popular smartphone app stores (Apple Store and Android Google Play Store) were surveyed for neurosurgery-focused apps in December 2013. Search results were categorized based on their description page. Data were collected on price, rating, app release date, target audience, and medical professional involvement in app design. A review of the top apps in each category was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search resulted in 111 unique apps, divided into these 7 categories: 16 (14%) clinical tools, 17 (15%) conference adjunct, 27 (24%) education, 18 (16%) literature, 15 (14%) marketing, 10 (9%) patient information, and 8 (7%) reference. The average cost of paid apps was $23.06 (range: $0.99-89.99). Out of the 111 apps, 71 (64%) were free, 48 (43%) had reviews, and 14 (13%) had more than 10 reviews. Seventy-three (66%) apps showed evidence of medical professional involvement. The number of apps being released every year has been increasing since 2009.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are a number of neurosurgery-themed apps available to all audiences. There was a lack of patient information apps for nonspinal procedures. Most apps did not have enough reviews to evaluate their quality. There was also a lack of oversight to validate the accuracy of medical information provided in these apps.
authors.affiliation: UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, West Hollywood, USA.
authors.forename: Doniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drazin
keywords: Applications; apps; iPhone; mobile; neurosurgery; smartphone
references.citation: Ann Vasc Surg. 2013 Aug;27(6):804-9
references.pmid: 23535521
references.citation: Surg Neurol Int. 2012;3:109
references.pmid: 23087825
references.citation: Telemed J E Health. 2012 Jan-Feb;18(1):11-3
references.pmid: 22171597
references.citation: Surg Neurol Int. 2012;3:30
references.pmid: 22530165
references.citation: Br J Dermatol. 2012 Jul;167(1):220-1
references.pmid: 22283748
references.citation: J Med Internet Res. 2011 Aug 29;13(3):e59
references.pmid: 21875849
references.citation: J Med Syst. 2012 Oct;36(5):3135-9
references.pmid: 22052129
references.citation: Obes Surg. 2014 Jan;24(1):32-6
references.pmid: 23749609
references.citation: Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2006 Oct;88(6):550-3
references.pmid: 17059715
references.citation: Aesthet Surg J. 2013 Feb;33(2):275-80
references.pmid: 23335649
references.citation: JAMA Dermatol. 2013 Nov;149(11):1300-4
references.pmid: 24067948
references.citation: Drug Saf. 2013 Feb;36(2):111-7
references.pmid: 23322549
references.citation: BMC Med. 2012 May 08;10:46
references.pmid: 22569114
references.citation: Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Oct;57(8):1145-54
references.pmid: 23839999
references.citation: Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2012 Nov;41(11):526-7
references.pmid: 23431517
references.citation: J Hosp Infect. 2009 Apr;71(4):295-300
references.pmid: 19168261
references.citation: Stud Health Technol Inform. 2013;184:20-3
references.pmid: 23400123
references.citation: Insights Imaging. 2013 Oct;4(5):555-62
references.pmid: 23912880
references.citation: Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009 May;17(5):885-8
references.pmid: 19396067
references.citation: Colorectal Dis. 2012 Sep;14(9):e530-4
references.pmid: 22646729
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2004 Mar 4;350(10):1059
references.pmid: 14999124
references.citation: BJU Int. 2012 Aug;110(4):475-7
references.pmid: 22578054
references.citation: J Fr Ophtalmol. 2013 Jun;36(6):499-525
references.pmid: 23706608
references.citation: Int Orthop. 2012 Aug;36(8):1655-60
references.pmid: 22653103
references.citation: Surg Neurol Int. 2010 Sep 01;1:46
references.pmid: 20975962
references.citation: Lancet. 2005 Oct 1;366(9492):1210-22
references.pmid: 16198770