How it works

1. CT scan of your shoulderA CT scan before surgery creates a 3D model of your shoulder joint, showing the shape of the socket and any wear from arthritis.
2. 3D surgical planUsing Stryker’s Blueprint planning software, Dr Brumby-Rendell plans the size, angle and position of your implant on the 3D model before the day of surgery.
3. Robotic-arm guidance in theatreDuring the operation, the robotic arm holds the instrument that prepares the socket. It gives the surgeon live feedback and creates a virtual boundary, so bone is shaped only where the plan says.
4. Implant placedThe reverse shoulder implant is placed into the prepared bone, and the operation is completed in the usual way.

Why socket position matters

In a reverse shoulder replacement, the socket side of the joint (the glenoid) is often worn or misshapen by arthritis. It is also small, and the surgeon has a limited view of it. The angle and position of the socket component are among the factors surgeons plan most carefully, because they affect how the new joint moves and how securely the implant is fixed.

3D planning shows exactly where the component should go. Robotic guidance is designed to help the surgeon reproduce that plan in theatre.

What the research shows

Mako Shoulder received US FDA clearance in December 2024,¹ so the published evidence is early. It focuses on how accurately the implant is positioned rather than on long-term patient outcomes.

• In a 2025 laboratory study, six shoulder surgeons prepared 36 identical bone models of the shoulder socket using three techniques: standard manual instruments, patient-specific 3D-printed guides, and the Mako robotic arm. CT scans then measured how far each result was from the plan. The robotic arm was significantly closer to the plan than manual instruments in four of the five measurements.²
• A 2026 clinical study of 103 reverse shoulder replacements found that average accuracy was similar with and without the robot. The robotic group was more consistent: no robotic cases were more than 10° from the planned angle, compared with 10% of conventional cases.³

Whether this greater consistency leads to better function or longer-lasting implants has not yet been shown. These studies are ongoing.

Is robotic shoulder replacement right for me?

Robotic assistance is used for reverse shoulder replacement. A reverse replacement is commonly recommended for arthritis with a damaged or torn rotator cuff, for large rotator cuff tears that can no longer be repaired, and for some fractures and revision operations. If you need an anatomic replacement, your operation will still be planned in 3D, but it will not use the robotic arm.

Whether a reverse replacement suits you depends on your examination, your scans and your goals. Dr Brumby-Rendell will go through this with you at your consultation. See reverse shoulder replacement, which shoulder replacement is right for me?, shoulder replacement and minimally invasive shoulder replacement.

Your hospital stay

Robotic-assisted shoulder replacement is performed at Eastwood Private Hospital. Most patients stay two days. A physiotherapist sees you on the morning after your operation to start your exercises. Your full recovery plan is explained before surgery. See post-surgery care.

Frequently asked questions

Does the robot perform the operation?

No. Your surgeon performs the operation. The robotic arm guides one step, preparing the bone of the shoulder socket, and stops the instrument from moving outside the boundary set in the 3D plan.

Does robotic surgery give a better result?

Early studies show the socket component is placed more consistently, with fewer large deviations from the plan. Robotic shoulder replacement is new, and studies have not yet shown whether this leads to better long-term function or implant survival.

Which shoulder replacements can be done robotically?

The Mako shoulder system is currently designed for reverse shoulder replacement. Anatomic replacements are still planned in 3D, but they don’t currently use the robotic arm.

Will I need extra scans?

Yes, a CT scan of your shoulder. It is needed to build the 3D plan.

Where is it available in Adelaide?

Dr Brumby-Rendell performs Mako robotic-assisted shoulder replacement at Eastwood Private Hospital, 204 Greenhill Road, Eastwood.

Do I need a referral?

Yes. A referral from your GP or another specialist is needed to claim a Medicare rebate for a specialist consultation. Once you have one, you can book online or call (08) 7077 0101.