Artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant progress in healthcare, with the potential to improve prediction, diagnosis, and decision-making. This is particularly evident in the field of orthopedic surgery, where the application of AI can significantly transform the discipline. AI technologies can be used to identify trends in data, predict patient risk potential, and anticipate adverse events, providing crucial information for clinicians. Despite being labeled “experimental”, there is increasing evidence that AI is effective and ready for broader adoption.
AI can further facilitate collaboration between physicians and patients. By incorporating patient-reported outcomes into machine-learning algorithms, physicians can provide patient-specific risk-benefit ratios. Machine-learning algorithms can also be used to predict the outcomes or benefits of arthroplasty surgery. However, further research is needed to determine how these decision aids can enhance outcomes and deliver value.
The use of AI in healthcare raises several ethical, legal, regulatory, and practice considerations. For instance, how should consent be obtained for AI-enabled robotic-assisted procedures? Surgeons and programmers need to collaborate to ensure that algorithm outputs align with patient needs.
The introduction of AI also raises questions about the current medical education program, suggesting a potential need for its redesign. Future professionals will need to learn how to interact with and adapt to these technologies for safe clinical application.
Despite these concerns, AI in healthcare presents a significant value proposition, especially in terms of cost reduction. By saving time and resources, AI technologies can potentially cut expenses. They can also influence patients’ experiences and outcomes. Clinician buy-in for the cultural shift and an assessment of the initial costs are crucial factors to weigh against these potential savings.
AI holds immense potential in orthopedics. To understand how AI can benefit orthopedic patients, it needs to be tested and evaluated in clinics, with an emphasis on its value. The value is determined by comparing the benefits of new tools against their total costs.
In orthopedics, AI offers significant value in enhancing prediction, diagnosis, and decision-making. Despite the ethical, legal, and regulatory considerations, the potential for cost reduction and improved patient outcomes makes AI an essential tool in modern healthcare. The key lies in striking a balance between the benefits and costs, and ensuring that future professionals are well-equipped to use these technologies safely and effectively.

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