5G-enabled XR live broadcasting of transoral robotic surgery (TORS): a feasibility study of an indoor small-cell architecture

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-11-2026

Abstract

Background: Live broadcasting of robotic surgery can expand access to specialist training and telementoring, but operating theatres can be difficult environments for stable, low-delay wireless connectivity. We evaluated a hospital-deployed fifth-generation (5G) indoor network to support extended-reality (XR) live viewing of transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Methods: In a prospective, single-session feasibility study at a tertiary university hospital, a mid-band 5G New Radio (NR) indoor small-cell system was deployed in the operating theatre and linked to a dedicated Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) gateway. Video from a da Vinci robotic console was captured, encoded using an artificial-intelligence-assisted hardware encoder, and streamed in real time to XR head-mounted displays (Apple Vision Pro) and standard two-dimensional endpoints. Latency proxy metrics were logged throughout the broadcast, and remote viewers completed the System Usability Scale (SUS). Results: The broadcast ran continuously for a 40-minute operative teaching segment with no reported workflow disruption or safety concerns. Mean signed latency offset was - 22 ms (absolute mean 22 ms) across the session. Twenty remote participants from seven countries joined the broadcast; 14/20 completed the SUS questionnaire, with a mean score of 72, indicating acceptable usability. Conclusions: A dedicated indoor 5G small-cell plus FWA configuration can deliver low-delay, XR-enabled live broadcasting of robotic surgery using commercially available components. This reproducible workflow supports scalable surgical education and provides a platform for future clinical connectivity studies.

Keywords

Telemedicine, Robotic surgical procedures, Virtual reality, Augmented reality, Wireless technology, Webcasts as topic

Publication Title

Journal of Robotic Surgery

ISSN

1863-2483

DOI

10.1007/s11701-026-03191-1

Volume

20

Issue

1

First Page

238

Publisher

Springer Nature

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