Surgical telementoring platforms for clinical care and training: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Surgical telementoring enables remote, real-time expert guidance in clinical practice and surgical education. This systematic review evaluated telementoring platforms used in surgery and training, focusing on technical characteristics, applications, strengths, and limitations. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for studies published from January 2015 to April 15, 2026, following PRISMA 2020. Eligible studies described surgical telementoring platforms with sufficient technical and application-related information. Findings were narratively synthesized into clinical practice, training/simulation, and immersive/augmented applications. Quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261403771). RESULTS: The search identified 672 records, 35 reports representing 34 independent studies from 18 countries were included. Most were feasibility, pilot, simulation, or early implementation studies. Platforms ranged from low-cost audiovisual systems to integrated immersive technologies. Clinical studies mainly demonstrated technical feasibility, while comparative evidence on patient outcomes and safety remained limited. Training studies reported improved procedural performance and learner confidence, while immersive systems showed potential for enhanced spatial guidance. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical telementoring is feasible across clinical and educational settings, but evidence regarding patient outcomes and comparative safety remains limited. Future research should prioritize standardized reporting, comparative clinical validation, governance frameworks, and integration into structured training pathways.