TY - JOUR
T1 - Smart surgical glasses for orofacial cleft surgery training in high- and low-income countries
T2 - A proof of concept
AU - Smit, Johannes A.
AU - Ronde, Elsa M.
AU - Lachkar, N.
AU - Kalanzi, Edris W.
AU - Opegu, Titus M.
AU - Breugem, Corstiaan C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
PY - 2024/1/1
Y1 - 2024/1/1
N2 - Introduction: The coronavirus 2019 pandemic urged us to find alternatives for education through remote proctoring and international surgical collaborations among high-, middle-, and low-income countries. Smart surgical glasses are promising for remote surgical education and international surgical collaborations. Aims: This study aimed to assess the usability of smart surgical glasses during cleft surgery and explore their potential in remote surgical education and collaboration. Methods: Six plastic surgical cases were randomly selected and recorded using the RODS&CONES glasses in 4K (3840 × 2160p). A 23-point questionnaire was sent to one plastic surgeon, one plastic surgery resident, and eight doctors who were not trained to critically appraise the video and audio quality of the smart surgical glasses and their applicability for remote surgical education. Results: The participants indicated that the smart glasses had several significant advantages over conventional on-site education, such as facilitating a better view of the surgical field and providing possibilities for remote interaction. The audio quality was considered excellent. The main limitations were image stabilization issues and loss of video connection due to weak wireless fidelity. Conclusions: All participants appreciated the use of smart glasses for remote education and considered them a promising tool for enhancing the quality of surgical education. The glasses can enable remote assistance and education of local surgical residents and may facilitate sustainable surgical collaborations among high-, middle-, and low-income countries.
AB - Introduction: The coronavirus 2019 pandemic urged us to find alternatives for education through remote proctoring and international surgical collaborations among high-, middle-, and low-income countries. Smart surgical glasses are promising for remote surgical education and international surgical collaborations. Aims: This study aimed to assess the usability of smart surgical glasses during cleft surgery and explore their potential in remote surgical education and collaboration. Methods: Six plastic surgical cases were randomly selected and recorded using the RODS&CONES glasses in 4K (3840 × 2160p). A 23-point questionnaire was sent to one plastic surgeon, one plastic surgery resident, and eight doctors who were not trained to critically appraise the video and audio quality of the smart surgical glasses and their applicability for remote surgical education. Results: The participants indicated that the smart glasses had several significant advantages over conventional on-site education, such as facilitating a better view of the surgical field and providing possibilities for remote interaction. The audio quality was considered excellent. The main limitations were image stabilization issues and loss of video connection due to weak wireless fidelity. Conclusions: All participants appreciated the use of smart glasses for remote education and considered them a promising tool for enhancing the quality of surgical education. The glasses can enable remote assistance and education of local surgical residents and may facilitate sustainable surgical collaborations among high-, middle-, and low-income countries.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Cleft surgery
KW - Remote surgical assistance
KW - Smart surgical glasses
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85176101189&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2023.10.051
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2023.10.051
M3 - Article
C2 - 37948881
SN - 1748-6815
VL - 88
SP - 8
EP - 14
JO - Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
JF - Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
ER -