Surgical illustration: the role, the reason, and the route.

Surgical illustration plays a fundamental role in the surgical field, being able to convey imagery in a more comprehensive way. However, its utility has seen a decline and being slowly replaced by photographs and 3D models. Surgeons are in a unique position that is optimum for producing surgical illustrations due to having direct contact and possesses a deep knowledge of the subject being drawn. The process of producing an illustration may also be valuable to the long-term conceptual understanding of that surgeon. This article aims to highlight the field of surgical illustration, its future potential, and act as a guide for surgeons to start illustrating.