Proposing patient-safe language in orthopedic imaging reports to curb nocebo effects

Radiologists can reduce nocebo harm in orthopedic reports by using patient-safe language that avoids frightening terms like 'bone-on-bone' and provides readable, contextualized explanations. A two-layer reporting structure, readability targets, and multilingual resources are pro…

• Orthopedic imaging terms such as 'degeneration', 'tear', and 'bone-on-bone' can mislead or frighten patients accessing reports online.
• Patient-safe language aims to maintain clinical accuracy while providing context and avoiding nocebo harm.
• The authors advocate for a two-layer report structure: a plain-language patient summary alongside the standard technical report.

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