Point-of-View Video Recording Devices in Plastic Surgery: Educational Utility and Medicolegal Documentation Potential.

INTRODUCTION

Operative video supports performance review and education, but consistent surgeon point-of-view (POV) capture in plastic and reconstructive surgery is challenging. We assessed the perceived educational effectiveness of a smart-glasses POV system and documentation/implementation considerations, including medicolegal use.

METHODS

De-identified operative segments were recorded using second-generation Meta AI Glasses. Curated videos/stills were shown to consultants, trainees, and medical students, who completed an anonymous questionnaire with optional free-text.

RESULTS

Thirty-five respondents participated (17 students, 12 junior doctors/registrars, 6 consultants); 24/35 (68.6%) provided free-text. Video quality and clarity/stability were rated good/excellent by 35/35 (100%); field of view and audio by 31/35 (88.6%) and 29/35 (82.9%). Documentation quality and clinically relevant detail were rated good/excellent by 33/35 (94.3%), and the added value of commentary was rated good/excellent by 32/35 (91.4%); 29/35 (82.9%) would recommend using POV recording for documentation. Educational value was strongly endorsed (34/35, 97.1% agreed POV recordings effectively teach/review technique). Patient-facing and medicolegal-related items were endorsed less consistently (22/35-30/35, 62.9%-85.7%). Consultants were more critical of the field-of-view/audio (good/excellent 50% each) and less likely than non-consultants to recommend routine documentation (1/6, 16.7% vs. 28/29, 96.6%). Free-text prioritised zoom/loupe compatibility, audio/lighting and alignment improvements, and governance around consent, privacy, storage, and access.

CONCLUSION

Smart-glasses POV recording was considered a feasible, high-value adjunct to surgical education, especially when accompanied by narration. Wider adoption for routine documentation and medicolegal utility depends less on conceptual acceptance and more on resolving current technical limits and establishing robust consent, privacy, storage, access, and governance.