biostudies-literatureUnknownKhalsa AStudy 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 pGlobal spine journal21925682251415176https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12774816biostudies-literatureAI-Assisted, Literature-Informed Development and Retrospective Validation of a Point-Based Surgical Site Infection Risk Calculator for Spine Surgery.PMC12774816Capone GKwon MAssefa TPeregoff JTurlip RWZemberi JCasper DHassan ZOkorie NMoser AKhalsa AUzosike OCieplik NMfalseAI-Assisted, Literature-Informed Development and Retrospective Validation of a Point-Based Surgical Site Infection Risk Calculator for Spine Surgery.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 p2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-06-06T13:04:14.783Z2026-05-30T03:11:37.296ZS-EPMC127748164149080610.1177/21925682251415176