Design and Development of Sur-Face: An Interactive Mobile App for Educating Patients Regarding Corrective Surgery of Facial Deformities

The development of Sur-Face, an interactive mobile application, addresses the limitations of traditional, leaflet-based patient education for orthognathic surgery. By utilizing high-quality 3D animations and serious gaming elements, the application aims to improve patient comprehension of complex surgical procedures and post-operative complications, thereby facilitating a more informed consent process. The project emphasizes that clear, visual communication is essential for managing patient expectations and reducing the potential for post-operative dissatisfaction or litigation.

The efficacy of the application was evaluated through a study involving 50 non-patient volunteers, who were randomly assigned to either an app-based group or a voice-instruction group. Participants using the Sur-Face application on a tablet demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in both understanding and retention of surgical information compared to those receiving only verbal instructions. Specifically, the app group provided a higher number of correct responses to a 13-question assessment, with the study reporting a p-value of 0.0034 for the accuracy of answers. These findings suggest that interactive 3D visualizations are superior to conventional delivery methods for conveying intricate medical information.

Developed using Autodesk Maya for 3D modeling and the Unity 3D game engine for interactivity, the application is designed for mobile platforms, including Android and iOS. Following its release on the Google Play and iTunes stores, the app garnered 167 downloads within its initial months of availability, with the highest engagement observed in Brazil, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Future iterations of the software aim to incorporate advanced gaming mechanics, such as real-time knowledge quizzes and interactive post-operative care simulations, to further enhance patient engagement and clinical outcomes.