Musculoskeletal radiologist-level performance by using deep learning for detection of scaphoid fractures on conventional multi-view radiographs of hand and wrist

Objectives To assess how an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm performs against five experienced musculoskeletal radiologists in diagnosing scaphoid fractures and whether it aids their diagnosis on conventional multi-view radiographs. Methods Four datasets of conventional hand, wrist, and scaphoid radiographs were retrospectively acquired at two hospitals (hospitals A and B). Dataset 1 (12,990 radiographs from 3353 patients, hospital A) and dataset 2 (1117 radiographs from 394 patients, hospital B) were used for training and testing a scaphoid localization and laterality classification component. Dataset 3 (4316 radiographs from 840 patients, hospital A) and dataset 4 (688 radiographs from 209 patients, hospital B) were used for training and testing the fracture detector. The algorithm was compared with the radiologists in an observer study. Evaluation metrics included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), area under the characteristic operating curve (AUC), Cohen's kappa coefficient (kappa), fracture localization precision, and reading time. Results The algorithm detected scaphoid fractures with a sensitivity of 72%, specificity of 93%, PPV of 81%, and AUC of 0.88. The AUC of the algorithm did not differ from each radiologist (0.87 [radiologists' mean], p >= .05). AI assistance improved five out of ten pairs of inter-observer Cohen's kappa agreements (p < .05) and reduced reading time in four radiologists (p < .001), but did not improve other metrics in the majority of radiologists (p >= .05). Conclusions The AI algorithm detects scaphoid fractures on conventional multi-view radiographs at the level of five experienced musculoskeletal radiologists and could significantly shorten their reading time.

Automated summary

This study assesses the performance of an artificial intelligence algorithm in diagnosing scaphoid fractures. The results show that the algorithm performs as well as experienced radiologists in terms of accuracy and can significantly reduce reading time.