Thursday, July 10, 2025
Long Island Jewish Valley Stream became the first hospital in the United States to perform a total hip replacement using the Ortoma system, an artificial intelligence-assisted surgical platform.
The procedure was performed by Dr. James Germano, chair of orthopedics at the hospital, on 74-year-old Dorothy Martino of Oceanside on May 1.
“I had a cane, so I wasn’t able to go anywhere or do anything,” Martino said. “So, this is like a major life change for me right now. I’m walking around. I can do the stairs. I can walk all over the place. It’s just amazing, truly amazing.”
The Ortoma system, previously used in Sweden and Japan, is designed to enhance surgical precision through AI-based planning and intraoperative guidance. For total hip replacements, surgeons can preoperatively plan implant positioning based on CT imaging and then use real-time tracking and measurement tools during surgery.
For Dr. Germano, the surgery was the culmination of over two years of collaboration with the Ortoma development team. He traveled to Sweden to observe a design surgeon using the system in a clinical setting, gaining hands-on insights into its workflow and functionality. His familiarity with the system played a key role in bringing the technology to the United States leading to its first use in a live surgical procedure.
A central advantage of the Ortoma platform to Dr. Germano is its ability to streamline preoperative planning. Traditionally, CT scans for hip replacement patients are sent to off-site facilities for data processing, a step that can take up to two weeks. With the Ortoma system, CT data can be processed in-house in minutes.
The system also stands out for its ease of integration into existing surgical protocols. Rather than requiring specialized equipment or extensive training, it works with a surgeon’s standard instruments, with only minor additions such as trackers.
“The benefit of the system is that, besides the preoperative planning, where you can really figure out exactly what you want to do for that individual and really personalize it for the individual in the operating room, it has a very small footprint, so it doesn’t really get in the way,” Dr. Germano explained. “It can be used in small operating rooms, the cost is going to be significantly less than any kind of robotic system at a fraction of the cost, because there’s not a ton of hardware."
Martino learned only days beforehand that she would be the first person in the country to receive a hip replacement with AI assistance from the Ortoma system. Diagnosed with degenerative osteoarthritis in her right hip, she had been living with bone-on-bone contact that also affected her back.
“I had no problem with it,” Martino said. “I have total faith in Dr. Germano, and that’s what I told him. I couldn’t believe it. I was telling everyone about it, everyone I knew. I was telling them about it, saying, ‘I was going to be the first one in the United States being done with the procedure by an AI like that.’ And I was right to have it because it just turned out amazing. It couldn’t be better. I’m just feeling so great.”
While she hadn’t initially expected to be part of a technological first, her experience with the surgery and early recovery has been positive. Before undergoing surgery, Martino found that her condition made routine activities increasingly difficult. Walking on the beach, something she often did with her family, became unmanageable, and even short trips or traveling through an airport felt daunting. The limitations impacted on her ability to fully participate in everyday life. With her mobility restored, she has been able to return to those activities without restrictions.
The introduction of AI into orthopedic procedures reflects a broader trend in medicine toward the use of advanced technologies to support clinical decision-making.
According to Dr. Germano, artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of surgical practice, helping with everything from planning to execution. While AI does not replace the expertise of the surgeon, it serves as a valuable tool to support clinical precision and consistency.
As technology becomes more widely adopted, platforms like Ortoma may play an increasing role in improving surgical outcomes and streamlining workflows. For patients like Martino and surgeons like Dr. Germano, it represents a promising blend of technological innovation and clinical experience.
