title: Augmented and virtual reality in surgery-the digital surgical environment: applications, limitations and legal pitfalls.
abstract: The continuing enhancement of the surgical environment in the digital age has led to a number of innovations being highlighted as potential disruptive technologies in the surgical workplace. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are rapidly becoming increasingly available, accessible and importantly affordable, hence their application into healthcare to enhance the medical use of data is certain. Whether it relates to anatomy, intraoperative surgery, or post-operative rehabilitation, applications are already being investigated for their role in the surgeons armamentarium. Here we provide an introduction to the technology and the potential areas of development in the surgical arena.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Wee Sim
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Khor
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Kavit
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Occipital VR, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ketan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Research, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wong
keywords: Augmented reality (AR); surgery; virtual reality (VR)