Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Afable | U.S. Navy Cmdr. James Flint, orthopedic surgeon, assesses the status of the...... read more read more
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SAN DIEGO — Navy medical experts at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) hosted a two-day training course on advanced osseointegration surgery, providing military and civilian surgeons with hands-on experience in a procedure that is transforming amputee care for wounded warfighters, at NMCSD, Feb. 25–26.
The comprehensive course combined classroom instruction, operating room observation, a cadaver-based surgical lab and case reviews designed to teach the essential techniques required to perform lower-extremity osseointegration surgery. Approximately 20 participants attended, including orthopedic and plastic surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, residents and support staff.
The training was led by U.S. Navy Cmdr. James Flint, an orthopedic oncology surgeon, and Cmdr. Yan Ortiz-Pomales, a plastic surgeon, both assigned to NMCSD. Four military surgeons—two orthopedic trauma surgeons and two plastic surgeons—participated, along with visiting civilian surgeons from Los Angeles and Mexico City.
“The primary objective was to educate military surgeons and visiting surgeons in the essential knowledge, skills and abilities required for osseointegrated amputation surgery,” Flint said in an interview. The course also aimed to train the multidisciplinary care team in best practices for treating amputees undergoing the complex procedure.
Osseointegration surgery is an advanced technique in which a metal implant is anchored directly into a patient’s bone and extends through the skin, allowing a prosthetic limb to attach directly to the skeleton rather than through a traditional socket.
According to Flint, this approach provides patients with a more natural prosthetic experience and improved overall function. “Patients universally report improved function, comfort and satisfaction,” Flint said. “It provides the best care for those who have served and sets the standard for specialized amputee surgical care and rehabilitation.”
NMCSD has been at the forefront of this innovative treatment. The hospital became the first military medical facility on the West Coast to implement osseointegrated amputation surgery and developed a multidisciplinary program involving orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, prosthetists and rehabilitation specialists.
According to Flint, since launching the program, NMCSD has continued to expand its expertise and now serves as a referral center for the complex procedure.
“In 2023 we were just getting established,” said Flint. “Now we are recognized experts and a referral center for osseointegration surgery, highlighting Navy Medicine and NMCSD specifically as a center for expert surgical care and rehabilitation.”
Course organizers emphasized that the hands-on training reflected the unique collaboration between orthopedic and plastic surgery—often referred to as “orthoplastics”—that is required to successfully perform the procedure.
The lab component allowed participants to practice the surgical technique using specialized instrumentation, while operative shadowing in the operating room enabled them to observe a complex bilateral osseointegration surgery and discuss surgical strategies in real time with instructors.
Beyond surgical technique, the course highlighted the broader system of care required for amputee patients, from patient selection and surgical planning to rehabilitation and prosthetic integration.
For the military health system, such training is directly tied to readiness.
“This conference expanded essential knowledge, skills and abilities in the treatment of war trauma, specifically amputation surgery and rehabilitation,” Flint said.
As some of the military’s experienced amputee-care specialists have retired in recent years, Flint said expanding training opportunities helps ensure continuity of care for service members who have sustained life-altering injuries.
“The lab ensures that more surgeons are trained up, ensuring continuity of future care for our amputee population,” he said.
The visiting surgeons will also bring the techniques learned at NMCSD back to their institutions, potentially expanding access to the procedure across the Los Angeles region and into Mexico.
For NMCSD, the course reflects a broader mission to advance military medicine through education, training and innovation while delivering high-quality care to service members, veterans and their families.
Looking ahead, Flint said the program plans to continue expanding both clinical capabilities and research into outcomes for patients undergoing osseointegration surgery.
Future efforts will include additional training opportunities, expanded multidisciplinary care and research into functional and patient-reported outcomes, as well as emerging techniques such as nerve-integrated osseointegration.
“These kinds of training opportunities demonstrate how Navy Medicine continues to invest in advanced surgical care and the education of its medical force,” Flint said. “Ultimately, it ensures our warfighters receive the best possible care and rehabilitation.”
The mission of NMCSD is to optimize health and enhance readiness. NMCSD employs more than 5,000 active-duty military personnel, civilians, and contractors in southern California to deliver exceptional care afloat and ashore.
| Date Taken: | 03.06.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.09.2026 12:04 |
| Story ID: | 559613 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 9 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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