We just published a review on surgical planning in VR in the Journal of Medical Imaging. In the systematic review we look into how virtual reality (VR) is transforming surgical planning. With VR physicians can assess patient-specific image data in 3D, enhancing surgical decision-making and spatial localization of pathologies. We found that benefits of VR become more evident. However, its application in surgical planning remains experimental, with a need for refined study designs, improved technical reporting, and enhanced VR software usability for effective clinical implementation. Authors of "Surgical planning in virtual reality: a systematic review" are Prof. Dr. Moritz Queisner and Karl Eisenträger.

Virtual reality (VR) technology has emerged as a promising tool for physicians, offering the ability to assess anatomical data in 3D with visuospatial interaction qualities. This systematic review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the latest research on VR in the field of surgical planning.
A comprehensive literature search was conducted based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses covering the period from April 1, 2021 to May 10, 2023. The review summarizes the current state of research in this field, identifying key findings, technologies, study designs, methods, and potential directions for future research. Results show that the application of VR for surgical planning is still in an experimental stage but is gradually advancing toward clinical use. The diverse study designs, methodologies, and varying reporting hinder a comprehensive analysis. Some findings lack statistical evidence and rely on subjective assumptions. To strengthen evaluation, future research should focus on refining study designs, improving technical reporting, defining visual and technical proficiency requirements, and enhancing VR software usability and design. Addressing these areas could pave the way for an effective implementation of VR in clinical settings.