MAKOplasty® is an innovative, robotic-arm assisted surgical procedure designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration. It offers the following benefits over traditional total hip replacement:

  • Accurate placement of the hip implant using the surgeon-controlled robotic arm system. This reduces the likelihood of hip dislocation.
  • More consistency in leg length, potentially decreasing the need for a shoe lift.
  • Decreased risk of the implant and bone abnormally rubbing together. This may improve the lifetime of the implant.

MAKOplasty® Total Hip Replacement is typically covered by Medicare. Check with your private health insurance company to verify coverage.

Good candidates

Candidates for MAKOplasty® Total Hip Replacement typically experience:

  • Pain while putting weight on the affected hip
  • Limping to lessen the weight-bearing pressure on the affected hip
  • Pain that may radiate to the groin, lower back or down the thigh to the knee
  • Hip pain or stiffness during walking or other impact activities
  • A failure to respond to non-surgical treatments or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication.

Only your surgeon can determine if you are a candidate for MAKOplasty® Total Hip Replacement.

If your surgeon determines you are a good candidate for the MAKOplasty® procedure, he or she will schedule a computed tomography (CT) scan of your hip one or two weeks prior to your surgery date. Then, a patient-specific 3-D model of your pelvis and femur from the CT scan is created before surgery to plan optimal implant placement.

During surgery, the RIO® robotic arm system guides the surgeon in preparing the hip anatomy and positioning the implants. Real-time data and images allow surgeons to know and control accurate implant placement, which can be difficult to achieve using traditional manual techniques.

What is the lifespan of MAKOplasty® implants?

All implants have a life expectancy that depends on several factors, including the patient’s weight, activity level, quality of bone, and compliance with his/her physician’s orders. Proper implant alignment and accurate positioning during surgery are also very important factors that can improve the life expectancy of an implant. Through the use of the RIO® robotic arm system, implants may be more optimally aligned and positioned.