AI which could help prevent bone fractures being missed is given go-ahead

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. These AI technologies are safe to use and could spot fractures which humans might miss given the pressure and demands these professional groups work under Mark Chapman, Nice It added that the technology “could help reduce the number of fractures that are missed in urgent care, which would reduce the risk of further injury or harm to people during the time between the initial interpretation and treatment decision in urgent care and the radiology review”. “These AI technologies are safe to use and could spot fractures which humans might miss given the pressure and demands these professional groups work under.” The four platforms recommended for NHS use are: TechCare Alert, which can be used on patients of any age; Rayvolve for adults only; and BoneView and RBfracture, which for adults and children aged two and up. Mr Chapman added: “Using AI technology to help highly skilled professionals in urgent care centres to identify which of their patients has a fracture could potentially speed up diagnosis and reduce follow-up appointments needed because of a fracture missed during an initial assessment.” According to Nice, the “true cost of implementing and using AI technologies for fracture detection is uncertain” as data was from retrospective studies. Charlotte Beardmore, executive director of professional policy at the Society and College of Radiographers, said: “The Society of Radiographers supports Nice’s draft guidance on using AI to help detect fractures in urgent care when used to complement the expertise of reporting radiographers and radiologists and where the evidence base demonstrates efficacy.