Virtual reality--a 'play station' of the future. A review of virtual reality and orthopaedics.

Virtual reality has been used in planning and executing various surgical procedures. Technical competence is the bedrock of surgery and virtual reality is the modern tool to assess and improve this competence. These methods are more cost effective and safe. Orthopaedic surgery is based on imaging and hence, can be strongly influenced by the concept of virtual reality. High performance computing has a potential for revolutionary innovation in practice of medicine. Fusion of real and virtual information can produce images that can help plan and undertake various surgical procedures.