AI-Assisted, Literature-Informed Development and Retrospective Validation of a Point-Based Surgical Site Infection Risk Calculator for Spine Surgery.

ABSTRACT: Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.ObjectivesPostoperative surgical site infections (SSI) remain a major cause of morbidity and cost in spine surgery. Existing risk calculators have limited applicability in this population. This study introduces a literature-informed, point-based SSI calculator designed to complement standard preoperative assessment. GPT-4 (OpenAI, San Francisco, CA) was used solely for structured literature synthesis and preliminary variable weighting.MethodsAdult patients undergoing spine surgery at a single academic center (2019-2025) were retrospectively reviewed. A 29-variable AI-assisted risk calculator integrating demographic, clinical, laboratory, and surgical factors was developed. SSI was defined using CDC/NHSN criteria with a 90-day window. Risk calculator p

SUBMITTER: Khalsa A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12774816 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature