Game-changing procedure for patients and surgeons
June 23, 2026 — Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Orthopedic, Sports Medicine, and Spine Institute clinicians made history once again in South Florida after successfully performing the region’s first pediatric total hip replacement using mixed reality-assisted surgical guidance. The procedure was performed by Dr. Thomas J. Utset-Ward, a pediatric orthopedic oncologist and one of only 10 specialists in the nation focused entirely on treating bone tumors and complex orthopedic conditions in children and adolescents.
“At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, the drive and curiosity to constantly redefine what is possible is built into everything we do,” said Dr. Utset-Ward. “As South Florida’s nationally ranked, leading pediatric hospital, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what medicine can offer the youngest and most vulnerable patients, and mixed reality allows us to plan and execute with a level of precision we simply did not have before. In Elienay’s case, she couldn’t walk for five years prior to her surgery, so this is about more than just replacing a hip, it’s about restoring a childhood that was put on hold. She can now ride a bike, walk and run with her friends.”…