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Title: Google Glass – A Next-Generation Information Technology Platform for Plastic Surgery
Background
Google Glass™ revolutionizes the way information is captured and shared, and has enormous potential to augment the practice of plastic surgery. While this technology is of potential value to a number of different surgical and medical specialties, we believe plastic surgery is ideally suited to lead this charge.
Methods
As members of the Explorer program, the authors have been utilizing Google Glass™ routinely for aesthetic and reconstructive cases since 12/1/13. We would like to describe our initial uses of this technology and highlight clinical scenarios in which Glass has aided in the diagnosis and management of patients.
Results
The authors have successfully used this technology in a number of scenarios including access to pertinent pre-operative data, multimedia documentation in the OR, and mobile telemedicine conference. Three such cases are highlighted below:
Example 1: 34F underwent bilateral mastopexy. Standard 2D photography was uploaded into the Google document cloud and these images were accessed through the Google Glass™ in the OR. Glass offers an ideal user interface giving surgeons the ability to use voice commands to access information to their visual field, while maintaining sterility and without interrupting the work-flow of the procedure. (Figure 1)
Example 2: 86F with significant loss of abdominal wall was taken to the OR for reconstruction using a pedicle ALT. Using Glass, we have demonstrated the ability to record video and still images in a hands free manner, without interrupting the operative procedure, from ideal vantage points. Images and video were emailed from the OR using voice control to other non-surgical team members. (Figure 2)
Example 3 - A 28 year-old right hand dominant female presented to the ER complaining of right ring finger pain after falling on ice. Her exam was notable for edema of the right RF and limited range of motion secondary to pain. Using Glass™, the resident was able to talk to the attending on call while examining the patient in the ER for the first time. (Figure 3)
Conclusion
Google Glass™ is the first generation of wearable computers and represents a major technological leap forward for plastic surgeons. Plastic surgeons are ideal early adopters. They are accustomed to wearing protective eyewear and loupes in the operating room and are used to recording and sharing intra-operative data.  This nascent technology is well-suited for the highlighted clinical situations presented above; the true utility of this technology is much greater and we have only started to explore its potential.