A Century of Orthopaedic Excellence with Global Impact: Instituto de Ortopedia y Traumatología "Carlos E. Ottolenghi" at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires.

Abstract

➢ Argentine orthopaedics was shaped by the influence of Dr. Vittorio Putti (Rizzoli Institute, Bologna, Italy). Dr. Carlos E. Ottolenghi, one of Dr. Putti's most distinguished disciples, together with Dr. José Valls, founded the Instituto de Ortopedia y Traumatología at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires in 1926. Prof. Ottolenghi transformed the Orthopaedic Service into a leading academic center and pioneer of subspecialization, serving as a foundational driver of orthopaedic development in Argentina and Latin America, while establishing strong international academic connections and collaborations.➢ Major milestones include the establishment of one of the earliest institutional bone banks and the performance of one of the world's first reported massive bone allograft reconstructions (1948); the performance of the first Charnley total hip replacement in the Americas (1967) and the first total knee replacement in Argentina (1970); and the early adoption of intramedullary nailing (1972), knee arthroscopy (1976), and femoral bone impaction allografting (1987). These contributions helped to define modern orthopaedic practice across Latin America and influenced global reconstructive strategies.➢ Advances such as surgical navigation (2010) and augmented reality (2025) have strengthened its role as a regional and globally connected center of excellence, particularly in musculoskeletal oncology.➢ Over the past 25 years, 180 residents and 160 fellows have been trained in our institute, and more than 500 indexed publications have been produced in the last 10 years, with alumni holding leadership roles across major orthopaedic centers worldwide, amplifying our institute's global footprint.➢ A merit-based, highly selective system based on excellence determines who becomes a staff surgeon. Currently, 85% of the actual staff surgeons completed residency training in our department, fostering a unique sense of institutional identity and perceived belonging. This experience reinforces the concept that excellence in orthopaedics transcends geographic boundaries and can emerge as a global reference from any setting committed to innovation, mentorship, and academic rigor.