Robotic-Assisted Surgery – Mako

For joint replacements, our surgeons have access to the Mako SmartRobotics™ surgical system.

The Mako system is a robotic-assisted surgical arm that can often be used to relieve pain for patients suffering from orthopedic conditions, such as arthritis of the knee.

The Mako platform uses advanced 3D CT-based planning software, which allows your orthopedic surgeon to see more about your anatomy before the procedure begins. With this added information, they can create a personalized joint replacement surgical plan. Your surgeon will use this 3D model throughout the procedure to perform the knee replacement.

Your surgeon will guide the Mako's robotic arm during the surgery to position the implant in the knee joint. Mako SmartRobotics does not perform the surgery, make decisions about the procedure on its own or move without the surgeon's guidance.

The Mako platform is only being used for hip replacements at Johnston Memorial Hospital.

Common benefits associated with the Mako robotic-assisted arm surgical system include:

Added precision – Due to the smaller instruments and predefined plan, your surgeon has a lot more control over the procedure.

Less pain – In clinical studies, patients who had a partial knee replacement with the Mako experienced less pain in the days and weeks following their surgery than those who had a conventional knee replacement.

Less tissue damage – In laboratory studies for total knee replacement, Mako enabled surgeons to execute surgical plans more accurately, protecting soft tissue and ligaments from damage.