Extended Reality for Neuraxial Procedures: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Medical Technology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Extended reality (XR), including augmented, mixed, and virtual reality, presents significant potential for advancing neuraxial procedures.
• XR applications encompass immersive simulations and innovative procedural navigation techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of existing literature on XR applications in neuraxial procedures.
• To identify current uses and propose future research directions for XR in this field.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed across major databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, Google Scholar) up to December 2023.
• Citation searching was used to identify additional relevant studies.
• Findings were reported following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

Main Results:

• 42 studies were included, with most published post-2015.
• XR was primarily used for simulation (24 studies) and navigation (17 studies), with limited application in direct patient care (5 studies).
• Computer screens were the most common display, followed by head-mounted devices.

Conclusions:

• There is a growing interest in XR for neuraxial procedures, showing promise in education and practice.
• Accurate image registration and workflow integration remain challenges for clinical implementation.
• Further investigation into XR's cost-effectiveness and reliability is warranted.