Machine learning in spine surgery: Predictive analytics, imaging applications and next steps

Abstract

Amidst the current technological revolution, medicine continues to advance towards personalized healthcare. By utilizing powerful computational techniques, physicians can now leverage machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) for a diverse set of applications, ranging from individualized treatment plans, automated imaging monitoring, and predictive models among many other uses to enhance delivery of optimal patient care. Spine surgery has benefitted tremendously from advancing technologies given the wide variety in clinical presentation of spinal pathologies and the complexities associated with management. In this paper, we review the current state of machine learning and AI for spine surgery and discuss its potential utility.