IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN NEUROSURGERY: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY APPLICATIONS (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate and synthesize current and potential applications of immersive technologies, specifically virtual reality and augmented reality, in neurosurgery, with a focus on surgical training and preoperative planning. Method: Narrative Bibliographic Review through the Pubmed database, using the search strategy “Virtual reality”, “Augmented reality”, “Neurosurgery”, in association with the Boolean operators “OR” and “AND”, resulting in 651 initial articles. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 17 became official sources for the study. Discussion: Studies highlight the importance of virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in neurosurgical training, improving skills in complex procedures. VR positively impacts students' accuracy and attitude, although haptic feedback needs to evolve. Implementing VR in resource-limited areas requires high standards. For neurosurgeons in training, VR reduces operative stress, but there is no significant evidence of immediate clinical improvement. AR, VR and mixed reality promise to transform neurosurgery globally. Final considerations: The integration of VR and AR in neurosurgery has transformed preoperative training and planning, highlighting advances in accuracy and effectiveness. Despite this, challenges such as simulation fidelity and long-term correlation require further investigation. Future studies are crucial to the successful application of mixed reality, ensuring the continued effectiveness of these technologies in contemporary neurosurgery.