Adoption of blockchain as a step forward in orthopedic practice

Giuseppe Rovere; Francesco Bosco; Angelo Miceli; Salvatore Ratano; Giuseppe Freddo; Lorenzo D'Itri; Massimo Ferruzza; Giulio Maccauro; Pasquale Farsetti; Lawrence Camarda

doi:10.4081/ejtm.2024.12197

Authors

Giuseppe Rovere Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Department of Clinical Science and Translational Medicine, Section of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
Francesco Bosco Department of Precision Medicine in the Medical, Surgical and Critical Care Area (ME.PRE.C.C.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8306-1869
Angelo Miceli Department of Precision Medicine in the Medical, Surgical and Critical Care Area (ME.PRE.C.C.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9846-1594
Salvatore Ratano Department of Precision Medicine in the Medical, Surgical and Critical Care Area (ME.PRE.C.C.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7473-1891
Giuseppe Freddo Department of Precision Medicine in the Medical, Surgical and Critical Care Area (ME.PRE.C.C.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Lorenzo D'Itri Department of Precision Medicine in the Medical, Surgical and Critical Care Area (ME.PRE.C.C.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0298-929X
Massimo Ferruzza Department of Precision Medicine in the Medical, Surgical and Critical Care Area (ME.PRE.C.C.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Giulio Maccauro Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Pasquale Farsetti Department of Clinical Science and Translational Medicine, Section of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
Lawrence Camarda
lawrence.camarda@unipa.it
Department of Precision Medicine in the Medical, Surgical and Critical Care Area (ME.PRE.C.C.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

Blockchain technology has gained popularity since the invention of Bitcoin in 2008. It offers a decentralized and secure system for managing and protecting data. In the healthcare sector, where data protection and patient privacy are crucial, blockchain has the potential to revolutionize various aspects, including patient data management, orthopedic registries, medical imaging, research data, and the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This manuscript explores the applications of blockchain in orthopedics and highlights its benefits. Furthermore, the combination of blockchain with artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and deep learning can enable more accurate diagnoses and treatment recommendations. AI algorithms can learn from large datasets stored on the blockchain, leading to advancements in automated clinical decision-making. Overall, blockchain technology has the potential to enhance data security, interoperability, and collaboration in orthopedics. While there are challenges to overcome, such as adoption barriers and data sharing willingness, the benefits offered by blockchain make it a promising innovation for the field.

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Rovere, G., Bosco, F., Miceli, A., Ratano, S., Freddo, G., D’Itri, L., Ferruzza, M., Maccauro, G., Farsetti, P., & Camarda, L. (2024). Adoption of blockchain as a step forward in orthopedic practice. European Journal of Translational Myology. https://doi.org/10.4081/ejtm.2024.12197