Artificial intelligence in abdominal wall reconstruction: where are we now and where are we going?

From novel reconstructive operations to the creation of negative pressure wound therapy, plastic surgery is defined by a rich history of surgical and technological innovation. One of the latest technologies changing the face of medicine is artificial intelligence (AI), with its increasing popularity embodied by the meteoric rise in AI-related publications over the last decade. Abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) is a discipline within plastic surgery that has taken an interest in AI technology, incorporating it into research to better understand hernia outcomes, interpret preoperative data, and improve patient-specific care and education. This review aims to explore the current breadth of AI use within AWR to give readers a better understanding of where the field currently stands and inspire ideas for where it may go in the future.