Educational video recording and editing for the hand surgeon.

Digital video recordings are increasingly used across various medical and surgical disciplines including hand surgery for documentation of patient care, resident education, scientific presentations, and publications. In recent years, the introduction of sophisticated computer hardware and software technology has simplified the process of digital video production and improved means of disseminating large digital data files. However, the creation of high-quality surgical video footage requires a basic understanding of key technical considerations, together with creativity and sound aesthetic judgment of the videographer. In this article we outline the practical steps involved in equipment preparation, video recording, editing, and archiving, as well as guidance for the choice of suitable hardware and software equipment.