Knowledge-Based Expert System for Orthopedic Injury Management With Integrated Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Medical Informatics
• Rehabilitation Engineering

Background:

• Ankle injuries are prevalent, especially in sports, posing diagnostic challenges.
• Misdiagnosis can lead to long-term complications and impaired recovery.
• Current orthotic treatments require intelligent systems for accurate assessment and personalized management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate TeleOrtho, a knowledge-based expert system for personalized diagnosis and treatment of ankle injuries.
• To integrate transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy into the rehabilitation process.
• To improve diagnostic accuracy, treatment adherence, and clinical decision-making for ankle conditions.

Main Methods:

• Developed a knowledge-based expert system (TeleOrtho) using Flutter and Python.
• Implemented a user-friendly interface for clinicians and patients.
• Validated diagnostic accuracy and treatment pathways using published case scenarios and usability testing (SUS score: 85.3/100).

Main Results:

• TeleOrtho reliably identified ankle injury types based on structured symptom input.
• The system provided individualized recovery plans, including TENS therapy recommendations.
• Validation confirmed alignment with medical guidelines and demonstrated consistent functionality.

Conclusions:

• TeleOrtho shows significant potential in reducing diagnostic errors for ankle injuries.
• The system can improve therapy adherence and enhance clinical decision-making.
• Future work includes integrating imaging analysis and expanding the system's capabilities.