St. Joseph’s Health and SOS Now Offering Mako SmartRobotics™ for Total Knee, Partial Knee, and Total Hip Replacement
March 19, 2025
SYRACUSE, NY – St. Joseph’s Health, in collaboration with Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS), is now offering Mako SmartRobotics™ for Total Knee, Partial Knee, and Total Hip replacement. This transformative technology for joint replacement procedures allows surgeons to create patient-specific surgical plans with greater accuracy and precision.
With Mako SmartRobotics™, surgeons can plan procedures based on each patient’s unique anatomy before entering the operating room. During surgery, the robotic arm assists in executing the plan with precision while allowing the surgeon to make real-time adjustments.
“SOS orthopedic surgeons specialize in the latest, cutting-edge robotic and computer-assisted surgical techniques for hip and knee replacement procedures,” said Dr. David Quinzi of SOS. “In my hands, I believe it gives the patient a more ‘patient-specific’ reconstruction in the sense that I feel I can more accurately match native anatomy. With the CT scan that a patient gets prior to the procedure, I’m able to review a 3D model of the patient’s anatomy before surgery, allowing for more specific planning. Overall, this allows me to disrupt the soft tissues less and hopefully lead to a consistently excellent outcome.”
“We are proud to collaborate with SOS to offer this highly advanced SmartRobotics™ technology in our area,” said Meredith Price, Senior Vice President of Acute Operations at St. Joseph’s Health. “This addition to our orthopedic service line further demonstrates our commitment to providing the community with outstanding healthcare.”
Total knee replacements in the United States are expected to increase 85% between 2020 and 2030.9 Mako Total Knee combines Stryker’s advanced robotic technology with its clinically successful Triathlon Total Knee System, which enables surgeons to have a more predictable surgical experience with increased precision and accuracy.11
Mako SmartRobotics™ for Partial Knee replacement is a treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis that has not yet progressed to all three compartments of the knee. By selectively targeting only the part of the knee damaged by osteoarthritis, surgeons can resurface the diseased portion of the knee while helping to protect the healthy bone surrounding the knee joint. Studies have shown that robotic-arm-assisted partial knee replacement has demonstrated increased accuracy of implant position compared to manual partial knee replacement procedures.12
Additionally, by 2030, total hip replacements in the US are projected to increase by 71%.9 Mako SmartRobotics™ for Total Hip is a treatment option for adults who suffer from degenerative joint disease of the hip. During surgery, the surgeon guides the robotic arm during bone preparation to prepare the hip socket and position the implant according to the predetermined surgical plan.
Being mindful of hip and knee health includes recognizing discomfort or pain early. SOS orthopedic specialists emphasize non-surgical treatments whenever possible, creating personalized care plans tailored to each patient. For those requiring joint replacement, SOS fellowship-trained surgeons provide high-quality surgical care to help patients regain mobility and return to daily activities.
“It’s important to understand that the surgery is performed by an orthopedic surgeon, who guides Mako’s robotic arm during the procedure,” added Dr. Quinzi. “Mako does not perform surgery, make decisions on its own, or move without the surgeon guiding it. The technology allows for precision while still enabling surgeons to adjust the plan as needed.”
About St. Joseph’s Health
St. Joseph’s Health, a non-profit health care system in Syracuse, New York, has been a trailblazer in the field since 1869 when it became the city’s first public hospital. Its commitment to exceptional care is evident in a network of acute, ambulatory, primary and specialty care services and partner care facilities providing a range of services to promote long-term health in the communities we serve. St. Joseph’s has been ranked by Consumer Reports among the top 15 heart surgery centers in the country, is a designated Primary Stroke Center, and is consistently named a Best Regional Hospital and #1 in the Syracuse Metro area by US News and World Report. St. Joseph’s Health is dedicated to excellence, innovation and compassionate patient care. From pioneering ambulance services in Syracuse to being the first in Central New York to use DaVinci robotic surgery technology in an outpatient facility, St. Joseph’s legacy of firsts demonstrates its ongoing commitment to leading medical advancements. Affiliated with St. Joseph’s Physicians and a member of Trinity Health, St. Joseph’s Health is your trusted partner in health, combining a rich history with a forward-thinking approach to ensure the health and well-being of our communities.
About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 127,000 colleagues and more than 38,300 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 26 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 93 hospitals, 107 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 142 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. In fiscal year 2024, the Livonia, Michigan-based health system invested $1.3 billion in its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. For more information, visit us at www.trinity-health.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).
About SOS
Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists is Central New York’s regional leader in providing quality, total orthopedic care to patients. Founded in 1999, its team of experienced orthopedic physicians and support staff offer state-of-the-art medical care, from diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and recovery. SOS has more than 20 physicians and employs approximately 600 additional staff. Its corporate headquarters are in Syracuse, and it has several locations serving area patients, including, Camillus, Dewitt, Liverpool, and North Syracuse. Additionally, SOS operates the Specialists’ One-Day Surgery Center in Syracuse; the SOS Orthopedic & Sports Therapy with multiple locations; and SOS Plus, an after-hours care center in Dewitt. For more information, visit www.sosbones.com.
References
- Suarez-Ahedo C, Gui C, Martin TJ, Chandrasekaran S, Lodhia P, Domb BG. Robotic-arm assisted total hip arthroplasty results in smaller acetabular cup size in relation to the femoral head size: a matched-pair controlled study. Hip Int. 2017;27(2):147-152. doi:10.5301/hipint.5000418
- Kayani B, Konan S, Pietrzak JRT, Haddad FS. Iatrogenic bone and soft tissue trauma in robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty compared with conventional jig-based total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study and validation of a new classification system. J Arthroplasty. 2018;33(8):2496-2501. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2018.03.042
- Hozack WJ. Multicentre analysis of outcomes after robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty. Bone Joint J:Orthop Proc. 2018;100-B(Supp_12):38.
- Banks SA. Haptic robotics enable a systems approach to design of a minimally invasive modular knee arthroplasty. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2009;38(2 Suppl):23-27.
- Hampp E, Chang T-C, Pearle A. Robotic partial knee arthroplasty demonstrated greater bone preservation compared to robotic total knee arthroplasty. Presented at: Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting; February 2-5, 2019; Austin, TX
- Kayani B, Konan S, Tahmassebi J, Rowan F, Haddad F. An assessment of early functional rehabilitation and hospital discharge in conventional versus robotic-arm assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY Bone Joint J
2019;101-B:24–33 - Kayani B, Konan S, Tahmassebi J, Pietrzak JRT, Haddad FS. Robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty is associated with improved early functional recovery and reduced time to hospital discharge compared with conventional jig-based total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study. Bone Joint J. 2018;100-B(7):930-937. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.100B7.BJJ-2017-1449.R1
- Shibanuma N, Ishida K, Matsumoto T, et al. Early postoperative clinical recovery of robotic arm-assisted vs. image-based navigated Total hip Arthroplasty. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021;22(1):314.
- Sloan M, Premkumar A, Sheth NP. Projected Volume of Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty in the U.S., 2014 to 2030. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018;100(17):1455-1460. doi:10.2106/JBJS.17.01617
- Bourne RB, Chesworth BM, Davis AM, Mahomed NN, Charron KD. Patient satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty: who is satisfied and who is not?. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2010;468(1):57-63. doi:10.1007/s11999-009-1119-9
- Deckey DG, Rosenow CS, Verhey JT, et al. Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty improves accuracy and precision compared to conventional techniques. Bone Joint J. 2021;103-B(6 Supple A):74-80. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.103B6.BJJ-2020-2003.R1
- Bell SW, Anthony I, Jones B, MacLean A, Rowe P, Blyth M. Improved accuracy of component positioning with robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: data from a prospective, randomized controlled study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2016;98(8):627-635. doi:10.2106/JBJS.15.00664