ABSTRACT
Purpose: To identify and describe mobile applications that can serve as complementary tools in the education of plastic surgery residents.
Methods: A structured literature review was conducted across MEDLINE, EMBASE, ERIC, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. Search strategies used Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and relevant keywords. Additional searches were performed in the App Store and Google Play to identify mobile applications related to plastic surgery education. Inclusion criteria covered studies and applications directly linked to residency training in plastic surgery.
Results: Fourteen articles met eligibility criteria, and 18 mobile applications specifically related to plastic surgery education were identified. The majority was freely available and addressed topics such as surgical simulation, flap design, anatomy, and procedural guidance. Apps in English predominated across platforms.
Conclusion: Mobile applications represent valuable complementary resources for plastic surgery training, supporting both theoretical learning and technical development. Their structured integration into residency curricula could enhance academic and clinical performance among residents.
Key words
Education, Medical, Graduate; Internship and Residency; Mobile Applications; Smartphone; Educational Technology; Surgery, Plastic
Introduction
The widespread use of smartphones and tablets has transformed the learning environment in plastic surgery residency programs, facilitating rapid access to theoretical and procedural knowledge1-3. This technological integration assists residents in overcoming challenges inherent to surgical education and the adoption of new medical techniques3-5. Mobile applications particularly promote continuous and self-directed learning, enabling residents to review anatomy, watch procedural videos, and access scientific databases from any location6-10.
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, these digital tools became crucial for maintaining training continuity despite the suspension of elective procedures3,11. Nevertheless, they are designed to complement—not replace—practical surgical experience, serving to reinforce motivation, confidence, and skill acquisition2,12. Despite the growing number of plastic surgery–related apps, many are aimed at marketing or patient engagement rather than structured resident education3,4,13.
Although more than 325,000 healthcare applications exist, few undergo usability testing or validation, which limits their reliability for formal training14,15. Considering the reduced operative exposure and working-hour restrictions in surgical residencies, virtual learning environments have become vital adjuncts for developing technical proficiency4,16,17. The Brazilian plastic surgery curriculum emphasizes comprehensive clinical competence, yet national literature assessing the integration of digital tools remains limited18,19.
In other surgical specialties, educational mobile platforms such as the Electronic Neurosurgical Register and Zwisch Me have successfully enhanced feedback and operative assessment20,21. Inspired by these advances, this study aimed to identify and describe mobile applications that can complement plastic surgery residency education, outlining their main features and potential contributions to surgical learning.
Methods
Study design
A structured literature systematic review and complementary mobile application search were conducted to identify digital tools that support plastic surgery residency education. The study followed descriptive and observational methodology, focusing on the characterization of available resources and their educational potential.
Eligibility criteria
Articles published in Portuguese, English, or Spanish addressing plastic surgery residency education, surgical simulation, learning curves, or mobile applications were included. Exclusion criteria comprised studies unrelated to surgical education, reports on other medical specialties, editorials, letters, case reports, and COVID-19-specific clinical training papers. Duplicates were removed before screening.
Search strategy
The literature search was performed on October 3, 2024, using the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, ERIC, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). Search strategies incorporated Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and free-text terms related to “plastic surgery,” “residency,” and “mobile applications.” The full search strings are presented in Table 1. Two independent reviewers conducted the selection process, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus with a third reviewer.
Endpoints
The primary endpoint was the identification and qualitative description of mobile applications applicable to plastic surgery residency training. Secondary endpoints included classification of journals by impact factor, distribution of applications by cost, and language availability.
Mobile application search
In June 2024, complementary searches were conducted on the App Store and Google Play platforms using keywords such as “plastic surgery training app,” “microsurgery education,” and “flap surgery simulation.” Applications were included if they offered educational, procedural, or anatomical content related to plastic surgery training.
Data extraction and analysis
Relevant data from included studies and applications were extracted into structured tables summarizing titles, objectives, outcomes, and educational relevance. Impact factors were categorized as low (0.50–1.067), medium (1.068–13.975), or high (13.976–51.568) according to Paiva et al.22. Descriptive analysis was performed to interpret the distribution of findings across categories.
Results
A total of 329 articles were identified across the five databases. After removing 22 duplicates, 307 articles were screened by title and abstract. Following the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 studies were included in the final analysis (Fig. 1). The PRISMA flow diagram (Fig. 1) summarizes the selection process.
Characterization of included studies
The selected studies were published between 2011 and 2024, primarily originating from the United States of America and the United Kingdom (Table 2). Journals varied in impact factor, with a mean of 2.714—classified as moderate according to Paiva et al.22. Most studies focused on the use of digital tools or mobile applications in surgical education, particularly for improving operative performance, anatomical understanding, and procedural confidence (Table 3). Figure 2 illustrates the distribution of publications according to journal impact factor.
Classification of articles according to title, author, year, country of origin, and publishing journal.
Identification of educational mobile applications
Eighteen mobile applications relevant to plastic surgery education were identified through searches on the App Store and Google Play (Table 4). Most of these applications were designed to facilitate procedural learning, simulation, and anatomical visualization. Thematically, they covered areas such as flap design, microsurgical training, burn management, craniofacial surgery, and aesthetic planning. Figure 3 presents the distribution of applications according to the pricing model: six (33.3%) were paid, seven (38.9%) were free, and five (27.8%) were free with in-app purchases.
Language distribution and accessibility
Figure 4 shows that most applications were available in English, underscoring the predominance of English-language resources in surgical education. Only a small proportion of apps offers multilingual support, highlighting an opportunity for localization and accessibility improvements.
Summary of findings
Overall, the analysis revealed that freely available applications are the most common, indicating efforts to expand educational access without imposing financial barriers. However, the paid applications often featured advanced modules and higher interactivity. The consistent presence of moderate-impact journals among the included studies reflects the emerging—but still consolidating—nature of mobile technology research in surgical education. Together, these findings suggest that mobile applications are progressively being integrated into plastic surgery residency training as effective adjuncts for knowledge reinforcement and procedural practice.
Discussion
Technological innovation has reshaped surgical education by introducing mobile applications that extend learning opportunities beyond traditional settings23,24. In this review, 18 applications were identified, most of which were free and designed to improve access to procedural guidance, anatomical visualization, and theoretical content. The predominance of freely available tools suggests an ongoing effort to democratize educational access while maintaining cost-effectiveness for residents.
The average journal impact factor of 2.714 observed among the included studies indicates that research on mobile education in surgical training is gaining academic recognition but remains in development. This reflects a growing global interest in technological integration within residency programs31. Journals such as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Aesthetic Surgery Journal have played key roles in disseminating evidence-based innovations related to simulation and mobile learning.
Previous studies have shown that mobile tools enhance residents’ preparedness and confidence before operative experiences. Khansa and Janis7 emphasized the relevance of surgical simulators, online platforms, and video-based assessments as complementary tools that shorten the learning curve and foster skill refinement. Similarly, Waltzman et al.1 demonstrated that while most residents possess smartphones, few fully utilize specialized applications, underscoring the need for institutional guidance and structured integration into curricula. Grow et al.29 corroborated these findings, revealing high device ownership but limited awareness of educational applications, particularly among residents and fellows.
These data highlight an important gap between availability and utilization. The effective incorporation of mobile technologies into residency curricula requires deliberate planning, emphasizing usability, validation, and alignment with learning objectives. Institutions should encourage the use of peer-reviewed applications that provide reliable content and measurable educational outcomes25-27. As augmented and virtual reality technologies evolve, future tools may offer even greater interactivity and realism, further enhancing surgical training17,26.
Although the findings of this review indicate promising educational potential, they also underscore the scarcity of validated, specialty-specific resources in plastic surgery. Continuous evaluation and adaptation of mobile platforms are essential to ensure that these tools truly complement hands-on learning. Future research should focus on assessing objective outcomes such as knowledge retention, technical performance, and user’s satisfaction to consolidate the role of digital education in surgical training.
Conclusion
Mobile applications represent effective complementary tools in plastic surgery residency training. The identified apps provide accessible resources for theoretical learning, anatomical visualization, and procedural guidance, directly supporting residents’ educational needs. Despite their availability, structured curricular integration and validation remain limited. Encouraging the adoption of reliable, evidence-based tools can enhance learning efficiency and technical development, contributing to more comprehensive and modern surgical education.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, particularly the Discipline of Plastic Surgery, for providing the academic environment, institutional support, and resources that made this study possible.
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Research performed at Postgraduate Program in Translational Surgery at Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo (SP), Brazil. Part of Master Degree, Postgraduate Program in Translational Surgery. Tutor: Lydia Masako Ferreira.
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Declaration of use of artificial intelligence tools
We did not use artificial intelligence tools
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Funding
Not applicable.
Data availability statement
The data will be available upon request.
References
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Edited by
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Section editor:
Cristina Camargo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3134-0003





CINHAL: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; LILACS: Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature. Source: Elaborated by the authors.

Source: Elaborated by the authors.
Source: Elaborated by the authors.