How to represent multiple steps in howPerformed property in SurgicalProcedure schema type in JSON-LD?

Question

I am writing a schema of type SurgicalProcedure in which there are steps on how to perform surgery. How should it be represented in JSON-LD format?

The property I want to use is howPerformed.

Here are the steps:

Step 1:
Cataractous Lens Removal
Extracapsular Cataract Extraction

In this procedure, the cataractous lens is broken up using either a laser (latest: AI-LenSx Femto) or using ultrasound waves (Phaco emulsification). The broken lens is then extracted through a tiny hollow tube. The normal lens capsule surrounding the lens is left intact.

Intra-capsular Cataract Removal

In this procedure, the cataractous lens is taken out as a whole by making a big incision cut on the eye then the incision is closed using 5 to 7 stitches. This procedure has become obsolete now.

Step 2:
Replacement for the Lens
Once the lens is removed, it may be replaced by one of the three options:

A contact lens, or
Special cataract glasses with very powerful magnification.
An intraocular lens (an artificial lens placed in the eye during cataract surgery)
Latest Surgical Techniques for Cataract

I want to represent step1 and step2 along with substeps.

Answer 1

To solve your doubt you can follow below procedure in JSON-LD format:

• The SurgicalProcedure has a name "Cataract Surgery" and it involves the property howPerformed, that contains an array of MedicalProcedure objects representing the steps of the surgery.
• Each MedicalProcedure has a name, description, and if possible, small sub-steps presented as an array of MedicalProcedure objects.
• Step 1 ("Cataractous Lens Removal") has two small sub-steps: "Extracapsular Cataract Extraction" and "Intra-capsular Cataract Removal".
• Step 2 ("Replacement for the Lens") has three small sub-steps: "Contact Lens", "Special Cataract Glasses", and "Intraocular Lens".

Code:

{
  "@context": "http://schema.org",
  "@type": "SurgicalProcedure",
  "name": "Cataract Surgery",
  "howPerformed": [
    {
      "@type": "MedicalProcedure",
      "name": "Cataractous Lens Removal",
      "description": "The cataractous lens is broken up using either a laser (latest: AI-LenSx Femto) or using ultrasound waves (Phaco emulsification). The broken lens is then extracted through a tiny hollow tube. The normal lens capsule surrounding the lens is left intact.",
      "subSteps": [
        {
          "@type": "MedicalProcedure",
          "name": "Extracapsular Cataract Extraction",
          "description": "In this procedure, the cataractous lens is broken up using either a laser (latest: AI-LenSx Femto) or using ultrasound waves (Phaco emulsification). The broken lens is then extracted through a tiny hollow tube. The normal lens capsule surrounding the lens is left intact."
        },
        {
          "@type": "MedicalProcedure",
          "name": "Intra-capsular Cataract Removal",
          "description": "In this procedure, the cataractous lens is taken out as a whole by making a big incision cut on the eye then the incision is closed using 5 to 7 stitches. This procedure has become obsolete now."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "MedicalProcedure",
      "name": "Replacement for the Lens",
      "description": "Once the lens is removed, it may be replaced by one of the three options:",
      "subSteps": [
        {
          "@type": "MedicalProcedure",
          "name": "Contact Lens",
          "description": "A contact lens"
        },
        {
          "@type": "MedicalProcedure",
          "name": "Special Cataract Glasses",
          "description": "Special cataract glasses with very powerful magnification"
        },
        {
          "@type": "MedicalProcedure",
          "name": "Intraocular Lens",
          "description": "An artificial lens placed in the eye during cataract surgery"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}