Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to have a significant impact on the entire field of health care, with spine care certainly included.

Here are some of the ways AI might improve spine care:

• Early Diagnosis: AI can do an analysis of X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. This might help identify abnormalities, fractures, and degenerative conditions more accurately and quickly.
• Treatment Planning: AI can aid in treatment planning by providing individualized recommendations based on a patient’s medical history and condition. This can include suggesting appropriate surgical interventions, physical therapy regimens, or medication options tailored to the individual’s needs.
• Surgical Assistance: In spine surgeries, AI-powered robots and navigation systems can assist surgeons in performing procedures with greater precision. These systems can enhance surgical accuracy, and reduce the risk of complications.
• Remote Monitoring: AI-powered wearable devices and remote monitoring systems can track the progress of spine care patients. This helps healthcare providers to keep a closer watch on patients as they go about their daily lives, making it easier to adjust treatment plans when necessary.
• Data Analysis: AI can analyze large amounts of clinical data, in this way helping to identify trends and potential treatment approaches. This can aid in the development of more effective treatments and better-informed medical decision-making.

So, yes,  AI has great potential in spine care, but it should be used in conjunction with human expertise. And healthcare providers will need to ensure that AI systems are properly validated, regulated, and integrated into their treatment plans to ensure safety, accuracy, and quality patient care.

This past summer, The International Journal of Spine Surgery published an article: “Emerging Role of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in Spine Care.”  The author, Robin R. Young, BAS, MBA, said in her conclusion:

“For now, in order to become trusted decision models for spine surgeons, AI and Big Data will, I would expect, enter the spine surgeon’s practice initially as expert advisers, not autonomous decision-makers, and will find the widest use in narrowly defined spine surgery tasks.”

To read the full article, go to https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10318907/