Merging Robotics and Virtual Reality for Brain Tumor Surgery: A New Frontier in Surgical Innovation.

Abstract

The integration of robotics and virtual reality (VR) in brain tumor surgery represents a transformative advancement in neurosurgery, offering enormous potential in enhancing precision, control, and visualization. This narrative review explores the current state of these cutting-edge technologies, their clinical applications, burdens, and future directions. We reviewed the studies evaluating the efficacy of integrating robotics and VR in neurosurgery. Robotic systems, such as da Vinci, ROSA, and NeuroMate, improve dexterity in complex tumor resections, while VR platforms like Surgical Theater and NeuroVR aid in three-dimensional visualization for preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance. Together, they reduce surgical risks and improve patient outcomes. However, challenges like high costs, lack of haptic feedback, and steep learning curves limit widespread use. Continued research and innovation are essential to overcome current limitations and ensure that these technologies can fully realize their potential to transform neurosurgical practice and set a new standard of care in neurosurgery.