The role of large language models in improving the readability of orthopaedic spine patient educational material

LLMs effectively simplify orthopaedic educational content by reducing grade levels, enhancing readability, and maintaining acceptable accuracy. Readability improvements were most significant in initial simplification steps, with all models performing consistently. These findings support the integration of LLMs into patient education workflows, offering a scalable strategy to improve health literacy, enhance patient comprehension, and promote more equitable access to medical information across diverse populations.