Article Details

Title · Authors · Abstract · Keywords · DOI · References

AI-Powered Rib Fracture CT Diagnostic System: Development, Integration and Application

WANG Lei1, WANG Jingwen2, ZHOU Xiang2

(1.Shanghai Zhiying Health Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200072, China; 2.Department of Medical Imaging, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China)

Section:Artificial Intelligence · Vol. 2026, Issue 7 · Pages:51-57 · 2096-4706(2026)07-0051-07 · CLC number:TP391.4 · Document code:A · DOI:10.19850/j.cnki.2096-4706.2026.07.011

Abstract

This study explores the integration scheme of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted diagnostic system for rib fractures on chest CT with the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), aiming to significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of rib fracture diagnosis. An efficient AI-assisted diagnostic system for rib fractures on chest CT is constructed, and an integration interface between the system and PACS is designed. A total of 187 patients with chest trauma are enrolled, and all patients undergo two CT scans on the day of chest trauma and within 1 to 3 months after injury. The presence of definite callus on the second follow-up chest CT is used as the gold standard for the diagnosis of rib fractures. The consistency between manual diagnosis and AI-assisted diagnosis based on the first chest CT, as well as the difference in diagnostic time, are compared and analyzed. The integrated AI-assisted diagnostic system improves the diagnostic efficiency of rib fractures, with the average diagnostic time shortened by 15.12%. Meanwhile, the system enhances the diagnostic efficacy of rib fractures that the average sensitivity for diagnosing complete rib fractures is increased by 5.06%, and the average positive predictive value is increased by 1.51%. The average sensitivity for diagnosing incomplete rib fractures is increased by 16.45%, and the average positive predictive value is increased by 4.65%, both of which are significantly superior to traditional manual diagnosis. This innovative integration scheme has important clinical application value and broad application prospects, and is expected to play an important role in clinical practice.

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence; rib fracture; imaging diagnosis; integrated application; interface design

References

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (82227807); New Cross disciplinary Research Project of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (2022JC017)

About the authors

Wang Lei (1987-), male, Han ethnicity, from Zhoushan, Zhejiang, is a senior engineer and a master's student with a research focus on medical artificial intelligence; Corresponding author: Zhou Xiang (1989-), male, Han ethnicity, Shanghai native, attending physician, PhD, research direction: medical imaging.