Moscow Launches AI Service for Diagnosing Shoulder Fractures

Moscow, Russia – July 2025: Moscow has launched a new artificial intelligence (AI) solution to detect shoulder fractures in X-ray scans, becoming the 41st clinical area where radiologists use computer vision technologies. This was confirmed by Yuri Vasilev, Chief Officer of Radiology at the Moscow Healthcare Department.

The city is steadily advancing in applying AI technologies to practical healthcare. This AI algorithm aids doctors by highlighting suspicious regions that could indicate fractures and performs essential measurements on the X-ray images. The system helps speed up the reading of diagnostic results while improving accuracy. Vasilev stressed its importance in trauma departments, where fast and precise diagnosis is critical for timely treatment and avoiding complications. With its integration into traumatology, this service becomes a part of Moscow’s expanding digital medical infrastructure, now functioning across 41 clinical areas.

“The shoulder joint is among the most complex areas to interpret on X-rays,” Vasilev explained. “Even slight deviations in a patient’s positioning during the scan can impact accuracy, requiring high levels of attentiveness from doctors. This AI tool serves as an additional layer of support, acting as a reliable assistant to enhance the precision of medical analysis.”

Identifying fractures early is key to choosing the right treatment approach. Delayed diagnosis can lead to problems like incorrect bone healing, chronic pain, or restricted movement. The use of AI helps avoid these risks by allowing quicker detection and faster treatment initiation.

This development is part of Moscow’s five-year pilot project to implement computer vision in healthcare. So far, more than 200 AI services have joined the initiative. Around 100 of these algorithms have been fully integrated into the city's medical information system, and roughly 50 are currently being used to analyze medical images in real time.

The project is overseen by the Moscow Social Development Complex in collaboration with the city’s Department of Information Technology and is based at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine. It aligns with the Moscow Medicine Development Strategy 2030, which aims to enhance both the quality and accessibility of healthcare for all residents.