AUTHOR=Calloni Tommaso , Roumy Louis Georges , Cinalli Maria Allegra , Rocca Alessandra , Held Andrea , Trezza Andrea , Carrabba Giorgio Giovanni , Giussani Carlo Giorgio TITLE=Exoscope as a Teaching Tool: A Narrative Review of the Literature JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2022.878293 DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2022.878293 ISSN=2296-875X ABSTRACT=

Recently, the emergence of the three-dimensional (3D) exoscope has proven to be a viable alternative to the operative microscope (OM) as a novel workhorse of microneurosurgical procedures. Through its current iteration, the 3D exoscope has been demonstrated to be at least equivalent to the operative microscope in terms of surgical outcomes in many settings. With its superior ergonomics and simplicity of use, the 3D exoscope has been shown in multiple studies to be a powerful visualizing tool during surgical procedures. Moreover, the exoscopic systems, through their current iterations and by means of a high-resolution 3D monitor and 3D glasses, have allowed all participants present in the operative room to attain an unprecedented level of intraoperative visualization of anatomical structures and surgical maneuvers which are traditionally available only to the first operator. Although long-term data are still lacking regarding its future as a replacement of the OM, the 3D exoscope has revealed itself as an intense subject of discussion in neurosurgery regarding its implication for surgical education, especially for residents and junior neurosurgeons. This article is a review of the current state of the literature on the role of the exoscope in surgical education, underlining its strength as a learning tool and its potential future implications in terms of surgical education.