AI tool has potential to 'change the lives of thousands of patients' languishing on long wait lists
Artificial Intelligence (AI) that identifies suitable patients for joint replacement surgery could cut waiting times and improve surgical efficiency, according to a research team based at the University of Aberdeen.
Luke Farrow is a clinical research fellow at the university who led the study, the results of which were published in The Bone and Joint Journal. Dr Farrow said: ‘We identified that the radiologist’s summary of X-ray findings can be successfully used to help predict which patients referred for consideration of hip replacement will go on to have surgery. This is the first comprehensive study to confirm the potential of AI in this field.'
Dr Farrow and his colleagues found that using the Aberdeen-led AI could identify patients that are suitable for hip replacement surgery both ‘rapidly’ and ‘accurately’. The initiative could help to shorten wait lists and ensure that the right person is seen by the right clinician at the right time.
Dr Farrow said: ‘Using this AI tool in clinical practice would allow for rapid automated review of many patients which would likely significantly improve efficiency and reduce associated costs – this could change the lives of thousands of patients who have been waiting for years to reach the top of surgical lists.’
While this is an exciting development with potential for radically improving patient care, Dr Farrow and the team found that the AI still needs to be trained according to the specific characteristics of the healthcare setting it is to be used in.
He said: ‘The effectiveness of the developed AI algorithm deteriorated significantly when faced with radiology reports from a different healthcare setting, indicating a need for further training on a wider, more diverse population.
‘Further development is needed to ensure that the algorithm works better when applied to new healthcare settings, such as different NHS trusts. With any AI algorithm it is important to ensure that it functions effectively in the real world.’
Using this AI tool in clinical practice ... could change the lives of thousands of patients who have been waiting for years to reach the top of surgical lists [Luke Farrow]
Case study
Steven Lewis, aged 52 and from Aberdeenshire, began noticing pain in his hip while following his passion for trail running. What started as reduction in mobility and ‘niggling pain’, developed into a continual limp, chronic pain and discomfort. Steven went from running the hills of Aberdeenshire to being unable to even sit or sleep without pain in a period of a few months.
Unable to register with a GP since moving from England more than a year ago, Steven was conscious that he would have a long wait to get his hip replaced:
‘I moved to Scotland more than a year ago and have yet to find a GP that will take me. I have seen the reports of people having to wait years for hip replacements and I knew I couldn’t wait that long.
'The pain was having a huge impact on my life - I missed running of course, but more than that – I couldn’t get any relief from it – even when I was trying to sleep.'
Steven, who can use private healthcare through his employer, is considering seeking hip replacement surgery from a private sector provider.
He said: ‘Data enabled decision making to support humans is now at the forefront of technology and has huge potential across many industries.
‘I have heard horror stories of people waiting years for hip replacements so if it can be used to help patients receive a swifter diagnosis and remedial surgery where required it can only be seen as a positive.’
It is hoped that with ongoing further development of the technology it will be available within the NHS in the next few years.
Author: I A McMillan
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