ChatGPT's Role in Spinal Surgery Education: A Mixed Bag

The Challenge

• Adult Spinal Deformity (ASD) affects 68% of older adults.
• Surgery can help, but complications occur in up to 50% of cases.
• Patient education is crucial, but doctors have limited time.

The Solution? ChatGPT-3.5

• A language learning model tested on 19 common patient questions about ASD surgery.
• Three spine surgeons evaluated the answers for accuracy and readability.

Topics Covered

1. Preparation for Surgery
2. Recovery
3. Lifestyle Changes
4. Post-Surgery Outcomes

The Results

• Preparation & Recovery Answers:
• Average Scores: 1.67 & 1.33 (respectively).
• Post-Surgery Answers:
• Average Score: 2.0.
• Overall Accuracy:
• 59.7% Excellent
• 26.3% Satisfactory
• 12.3% Needed Clarification
• 1.8% Unsatisfactory
• One Answer (about pain recurrence) was deemed inaccurate by all reviewers.

Readability Issues

• Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level showed all responses were too complex.
• Average Reading Level: 5.91 grades above the recommended 8th-grade level.

The Verdict

• Potential as a patient education tool, but not perfect.
• Varying accuracy and complex language may limit usefulness for those with lower health literacy.
• Not a replacement for doctor-patient communication.