Unlocking global neurosurgery: how telemedicine addresses unmet needs and future prospects - a scoping review

Telemedicine, as defined by the WHO, utilizes information and communication technologies for disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, enabling remote healthcare delivery. While its adoption accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, its role in global neurosurgery remains underexplored and presents unique challenges.

This scoping review examines the implementation of telemedicine in neurosurgery and its subspecialties across different global contexts-before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

We scoped the scientific literature published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese from 2014 to 2024. We analyzed primary and secondary studies, excluding gray literature. Initial searches yielded 3,622 articles, with 67 studies meeting the eligibility criteria for final review.

Telemedicine has been implemented in various neurosurgical subspecialties, including general neurosurgery, perioperative assessment, traumatic brain injury, stroke, neurosurgical oncology, spine surgery, neurocritical care, functional neurosurgery, and pediatric neurosurgery. Reported outcomes encompass patient and neurosurgeon satisfaction and perceptions regarding telemedicine's role during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Telemedicine holds promise in addressing unmet needs in global neurosurgical care, offering benefits such as enhanced clinical effectiveness, patient satisfaction, cost-effectiveness, and reduced hospital readmissions. It extends access to specialized care, improving the overall quality of life and proving indispensable in contemporary neurosurgery, especially within a global context. Continued research and optimization of telemedicine implementation are essential for ensuring safe and effective healthcare delivery, particularly within the global neurosurgical landscape.