Research trends in virtual reality surgical simulation for education: a systematic review

Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a transformative tool in surgical education, offering a controlled and repeatable training environment that mitigates ethical and legal challenges associated with traditional apprenticeship models. By simulating real-life surgical scenarios, VR allows trainees to practice procedures safely while improving skill acquisition and procedural efficiency. In this study, we systematically reviewed research trends in VR-based surgical education to provide insights into its current applications and future potential.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, identifying 395 studies. Of these, 92 studies met predefined inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis. The selected studies were analyzed based on publication period, surgical procedure, medical specialty, country of origin, and outcome measures.

Study findings revealed that research on VR surgical simulation peaked between 2005 and 2009, followed by a decline in recent years. Laparoscopic and endoscopic training were the most frequently studied procedures, with general surgery and gastroenterology being the most predominant specialties. The United States contributed the highest number of publications. Common outcome measures for evaluating VR training effectiveness included time, movement economy, subject evaluation, error rates, proficiency scales, and accuracy.

These findings illustrate the historical trajectory and current landscape of VR use in surgical training. While the initial surge in interest has waned, VR remains a valuable tool for procedural skill development, particularly in laparoscopic and endoscopic training, and its future potential may depend on improvements in realism, cost-efficiency, and curriculum integration.