Ever since the early pioneers of joint replacement surgery began their work back in the 1960s, orthopaedic surgeons, prosthetics manufacturers and medical technology companies have been striving to improve the outcomes for patients. In recent years, joint replacement surgery has made major advances and patients who undergo joint replacement surgery today often see their prosthetic implants lasting up to 20-25 years.
For many patients having a joint replacement later in life, this means there’s no need for repeat surgery due to the eventual failure of the prosthetic. This is good news as replacing a worn-out implant (known as revision joint replacement) has poorer outcomes and a higher risk of complications than the original primary joint replacement.
Mako – a revolution in joint replacement surgery
By far one of the most important developments has been the creation of Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery by Stryker. It is no overstatement to say that Mako total hip and knee replacements are helping to revolutionise joint replacement surgery, giving patients a better experience both on the operating table and long into the future.
This type of surgery has been adopted by some of the UK’s top orthopaedic surgeons, such as Andrew Carrothers who has performed more than 880 Mako Hip, Knee and Partial Knee procedures to date.
The benefits of Mako surgery
Here are some of the benefits of having a Mako total hip or knee replacement. The system uses Mako SmartRobotics, which combines innovative computer software with robotic arm technology to support the surgeon on the operating table. The advantages over conventional joint replacement surgery are as follows:
- Pre-operative planning – Prior to surgery, Mako SmartRobotics creates a 3D virtual model of the patient’s joint using a CT scan. Because everyone’s anatomy is unique, this gives the orthopaedic surgeon an important advantage, showing the patient’s individual joint alignment, as well as highlighting damaged areas of bone that need to be removed and areas that are healthy and can remain intact. Using the virtual model, it is possible to create a detailed pre-surgical plan and to identify the correct size and placement of the prosthetic implant. This helps to improve accuracy during surgery, which leads to better long-term outcomes for the patient. It also reduces the amount of time patients spend on the operating table, which supports faster recovery from surgery. By identifying healthy areas of bone and tissue, the surgeon can ensure that only diseased bone and tissue is removed during surgery, which is an advantage if a revision joint replacement is needed in the future to replace a worn-out implant. The more natural healthy bone and tissue that remains intact, the lower the potential risk of developing future complications.
- Mako robotic-arm technology supports the surgeon during the surgical procedure itself. The surgeon uses the robotic arm to cut away arthritic bone and cartilage from the joint, based on the patient’s pre-operative plan. AccuStop haptic technology creates a virtual boundary between healthy and damaged tissue. If the surgeon crosses this boundary, the system alerts them. The result is far greater accuracy than with conventional manual reaming. In a multicentre clinical trial of 110 patients undergoing a total hip replacement, the position of the acetabular cup (the socket in the pelvis that forms part of the hip joint) was compared between the preoperative plan, intraoperative assessment and achieved radiographic measures. The results showed that having intraoperative robotic-arm assistance led to greater accuracy in the preparation and positioning of the acetabular cup.
- Post-surgical data analytics enables the surgeon to track each patient’s process, including providing details of any complications or readmissions, as well as patient-reported outcomes. This provides helpful insights and supports a process of continuous improvement.
Andrew Carrothers is proud to have nearly 700 5-star reviews on the independent review site iwantgreatcare.org A private patient at Nuffield Hospital Cambridge who underwent a Mako total hip replacement in January 2025 wrote:
“I hobbled in and 24 hours later I was up and on crutches. After two physio appointments I was signed off and told to continue my exercises. After four weeks I walked unaided into Andrew Carrothers’ consulting rooms. I was fortunate to have a fabulous surgeon, and a determination to follow the exercise regime and advice. Six months on you would not know that I ever had a problem.”
Not all patients have the option to undergo a Mako joint replacement so it’s still important to recognise that conventional joint replacements remain one of the most successful orthopaedic procedures of all time. However, if you are offered a choice between a conventional joint replacement and Mako, it is good to understand the benefits of Mako total hip and knee surgery so you can make an informed decision. Talk to your orthopaedic surgeon about your options.
If you would like further information or advice about Mako joint replacement (or conventional joint replacement) surgery, you are welcome to contact us.
Talk to an orthopaedic consultant | Cambridge
We are always happy to provide information and guidance about the various treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, including Mako robotic arm assisted surgery and conventional surgery.
For more information, please contact us.
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For your convenience, we offer appointments at both Nuffield Hospital Cambridge and Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital.
