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A Scoping Review on the Evidence for Virtual Reality Simulation in Surgical Training
Morgan S Gold1, Elissa Colucci2, Boaz Laor3
1Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Journal of Surgical Education
|August 4, 2026
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) surgical simulation significantly enhances surgical trainee skills, improving performance, reducing errors, and boosting confidence. This systematic review confirms VR
Area of Science:
- Medical Education Technology
- Surgical Training Innovations
- Virtual Reality Applications in Medicine
Background:
- Surgical simulation is crucial for skill development.
- Virtual reality (VR) offers high-fidelity simulation across specialties.
- Evidence on VR simulation's effectiveness in surgical training is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the impact of VR surgical simulation on skill acquisition.
- To evaluate VR simulation's effectiveness across various surgical specialties.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science (inception to April 2025).
- Inclusion criteria: studies on VR simulation for surgical skills in trainees.
- Outcomes assessed: performance, time, errors, and confidence.
Main Results:
- 235 studies included from over 30 countries; 51.49% were randomized controlled trials.
- Most studies focused on residents in general and orthopedic surgery.
- Significant improvements reported in performance (75.8%), time (69.9%), errors (66.2%), and confidence (76.2%).
Conclusions:
- Virtual reality surgical simulation demonstrates consistent efficacy in improving surgical trainee skills.
- Over 60% of studies showed consistent benefits across multiple outcome measures.
- VR simulation is a valuable tool for enhancing surgical education and competency.
