South Florida First for Paediatric Hip Replacement
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has performed South Florida’s first paediatric total hip replacement using mixed reality-assisted surgical guidance. The procedure was carried out by Dr Thomas J. Utset-Ward. He is a paediatric orthopaedic oncologist and one of only 10 specialists in the United States whose practice is focused entirely on treating bone tumours and complex orthopaedic conditions in children and adolescents.
The operation was completed by clinicians from the hospital’s Orthopaedic, Sports Medicine and Spine Institute. According to the hospital, the procedure marked the first time mixed reality-assisted surgical guidance had been used for a paediatric total hip replacement in the region.
The patient, Elienay, was 18 years old at the time of the surgery. Five years earlier, she had developed slipped capital femoral epiphysis, known as SCFE. The condition occurs in adolescents when the ball of the thigh bone slips off the neck of the hip. The injury resulted in severe deterioration of her hip joint over time.
Before the operation, Elienay relied on a crutch for mobility and could walk only short distances. The condition affected her ability to carry out everyday activities and left her unable to walk normally for several years.
Total hip replacement procedures are uncommon in paediatric patients because children and adolescents continue to grow and develop. In cases involving SCFE, surgery is required and recovery following treatment plays an important role in long-term mobility.
The mixed reality guidance platform used during the procedure was designed to address challenges associated with paediatric hip replacement surgery. These problems include the need to account for the development of bone structures and long-term implant durability.
According to information provided by the hospital, the platform offers detailed three-dimensional anatomical modelling, precise implant sizing and placement measurements, and predictive analysis. These features are intended to support surgical planning, reduce operating time, and improve long-term outcomes.
The technology enabled the surgical team to assess anatomical structures in detail before the operation and to use patient-specific information when planning implant placement. The hospital stated that the system provided an additional layer of guidance during a complex procedure involving a young patient.
Following the surgery, Elienay no longer required support while walking. The hospital reported that she had become more confident in her mobility and was able to ride a bicycle and take part in routine day-to-day activities.
Nicklaus Children’s Health System stated that it has provided healthcare services to children and families for more than 75 years. The organisation operates Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, a freestanding speciality hospital dedicated exclusively to paediatric care in South Florida.
The health system provides paediatric services through a network of hospitals and community-based partnerships. These include NCH North Hospital in Naples, Jupiter Medical Centre, selected Baptist Health Hospital paediatric emergency units, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Fort Lauderdale and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Coral Springs. The latter two facilities are located on Broward Health campuses.
The network also includes more than 35 outpatient locations serving Miami-Dade, Broward, Martin and Palm Beach counties. These facilities provide urgent care, primary care, and specialist paediatric services through hospital-based sites operated by Nicklaus Children’s Paediatric Specialists, LLC.
