BRAND

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead Product Designer
User research
Design system
Prototyping
Usability testing
UI/UX QA before production

CREDITS

PM Gal Ben Simon
Teach Lead Avitan Barnes

:AI-Powered Orthopedic Planning UX redesign cuts support inquiries by 17%

How AI-guided workflows can improve efficiency, shorten time, and make the process feel goal-oriented

Overview

This project involved transforming an orthopedic templating tool into an advanced AI-powered SaaS platform as a guided workflow. TraumaCad-Neo enables surgeons to plan procedures by simulating surgical outcomes, selecting implants, and seamlessly managing the process from preoperative planning through to surgery.

-17%

Reduced support inquiries
by 17% following the product launch

+55%

In the first year after launch, user engagement has grown by 55%

95%

Usability testing revealed
a 95% success rate

Challenges

Design a guided, end-to-end surgical planning workflow that balances structure and flexibility for both novice and veteran users.
The challenge was to modernize and streamline the interface while preserving enough familiarity for experienced users to avoid disrupting their habits.

Improvements focused on guided workflow, decluttering the interface for time-sensitive use, and keeping essential data visible without obstruction.
The redesign also introduced AI-powered tools, and enabled faster, more accurate planning to boost efficiency and adoption.

User Research & Insights

  • Users preferred clear and minimal interfaces with essential tools immediately accessible.

  • They expected the AI to auto-place implants based on anatomical landmarks.

  • Repositioning labels and dragging implants was seen as tedious and repetitive.

  • There was a strong demand for template visibility and customization, without sacrificing speed.

User Questionnaire

User Persona

User Testing results

In total, 16 orthopedic healthcare professionals participated in user testing.
Following two iterative rounds of feedback and refinement, the final version achieved a 95% success rate.

Design Solutions

Aligning Tool Organization with User Expectations

One core platform feature was the “Surgical Planning” section with various measurement and templating tools.
Initially, all tools were grouped under a single button, but users found the extra click disruptive.
I redesigned this to visible tab buttons for direct access.
Later feedback showed users viewed basic tools as separate from the core workflow, so in the final iteration, basic tools were moved to a top panel for constant access, while advanced tools remained grouped under “Surgical Planning,” aligning with user expectations and streamlining the workflow.

Guided workflow

Introduced a guided workflow that clearly defines the start and end of the planning process, helping users follow a consistent, streamlined path with fewer errors and shorter completion time.

New version

Old version

Old version

New version

Redesigned & Structured UI:

Completely modernized the UI layout to create a cleaner, more intuitive interface while transforming the experience into a guided, structured workflow that leads users clearly from start to finish.

Personalize workflow

Supported personalized workflows by prioritizing the most frequently used templates for each specific user at the top of the list, allowing flexibility for individual planning methods while still guiding users through a standardized process.

Designing for Real-World
Surgical Environments

After observing real-life surgeries, identified that implant size labels were unreadable on large OR projector screens due to small font sizes.
I added the ability to adjust label font size in the planning report, ensuring visibility during surgery.

Outcome Highlights

  • Surgeons reported increased confidence and clarity when preparing procedures.

  • Improved usability and user satisfaction: While formal usability metrics are still being gathered, a 17% decrease in technical support inquiries since the product's release suggests a smoother, more intuitive user experience.

  • After it's first year, the product has seen a 55% growth in user engagement, reflecting improved usability and relevance.

Reflection

  • In this project I've learned that guided workflows improve efficiency: Designing a clear start-to-end workflow helped reduce user uncertainty, shortened planning time, and made the process feel more structured and goal-oriented.

  • Observing users both in testing sessions and real clinical environments (like the OR) uncovered issues that wouldn't have surfaced otherwise.

  • AI is a partner, not a replacement – surgeons still want control, but appreciate smart defaults.

  • Effective tool discovery hinges on context: users need to see the right tools exactly when they’re relevant.