Robotic hip replacement
Dr Jason Tsung uses the Stryker Mako robotic-arm system for hip replacement, and has done so since 2016. The robot doesn't perform the surgery. Dr Tsung does. It is a guidance tool that helps him position your new hip accurately, working from a plan built around your own anatomy.
Written and reviewed by Dr Jason Tsung, FRACS (Orth) · Last reviewed June 2026
What robotic-assisted hip replacement involves
Robotic-assisted hip replacement is conventional hip replacement carried out with the help of a robotic-arm system, with the surgeon in control throughout. A low-dose CT scan taken before surgery is turned into a 3D model of your hip, the implant is planned onto that model, and during the operation the robotic arm helps Dr Tsung follow the plan precisely. There is more detail on how the Mako system works, step by step, on the robotic-assisted joint replacement page.
Precision in hip replacement
The best-proven benefit of robotic assistance is precision: placing the implant more accurately, and more consistently, than manual technique. In hip replacement, the system helps position the socket within the target zone, the area linked to a lower chance of the hip dislocating. The socket was placed in the position surgeons aim for, the safe zone, in around 95% of robotic cases, compared with roughly 66% using conventional instruments.¹ Some large studies report lower dislocation rates when the socket is well placed.¹,²
Combined with the direct superior approach
Robotic planning can be combined with the minimally invasive direct superior approach that Dr Tsung uses for many hip replacements. The robotic step guides accurate socket positioning, while the direct superior approach is a muscle-sparing modification of the standard posterior approach that leaves the iliotibial band and one of the deep muscles at the back of the hip intact. The two are complementary: one is about where the implant goes, the other about how the hip is reached.
What the evidence shows
Precision is supported by strong, consistent evidence, as above. What robotic assistance has not been shown to do is change the long-term result. National joint replacement registries and recent reviews have not found that robotic assistance makes a hip replacement last longer, or need fewer revisions, than well-performed conventional surgery.³ Precision is the proven benefit. The current evidence doesn't show a guaranteed difference in the long-term result, and individual results vary.
Risks and trade-offs
Robotic assistance doesn't remove the risks that come with any hip replacement, among them infection, blood clots, dislocation, a difference in leg length, and the small chance of further surgery. A few trade-offs are specific to the robotic approach. The operation takes a little longer, and planning requires a CT scan, which involves a small amount of additional radiation. The robot supports the surgeon's judgement rather than replacing it. Whether robotic-assisted surgery suits your hip is discussed in detail at your consultation.
Common questions
Is robotic hip replacement more accurate?
Precision is the best-proven benefit. In hip replacement, the socket was placed in the position surgeons aim for, the safe zone, in around 95% of robotic cases, compared with roughly 66% using conventional instruments. Accurate socket position is linked to a lower chance of the hip dislocating. What it has not been shown to do is make a hip replacement last longer or need fewer revisions than well-performed conventional surgery, and individual results vary.
Can robotic planning be combined with a minimally invasive approach?
Yes. Robotic planning can be combined with the minimally invasive direct superior approach that Dr Tsung uses for many hip replacements. The robotic step guides accurate socket positioning, while the direct superior approach is a muscle-sparing way of reaching the hip.
Does robotic hip replacement cost more for the patient?
No. Using the robotic-assisted system does not add to the cost of your surgery. Robotic planning is part of how Dr Tsung performs hip replacement, not a paid extra. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on the procedure and your health fund, and we go through it with you on the fees and health funds page.
Does robotic assistance make hip surgery take longer?
A little. Robotic-assisted hip replacement takes around 45 to 60 minutes on average, modestly longer than conventional surgery, and planning requires a CT scan a week or two beforehand, which involves a small amount of additional radiation. The robotic step does not remove the risks that come with any joint replacement, such as infection, blood clots and stiffness, and individual results vary.
Book or refer
To see Dr Tsung you’ll need a referral from your GP or another specialist. Call reception on (07) 5676 9930 to book your first appointment, or email hello@sgco.au. New patients can pre-register online before the visit; the form prepares your records and does not book an appointment. For costs, see fees and health funds.
References
- Loke RWK, et al. MAKO robotic-assisted compared to conventional total hip arthroplasty for hip osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. 2025;20:466.
- Di Gangi C, et al. Robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty and reduced dislocation risk. Journal of Arthroplasty. 2024;39(9S2):S359–S366.
- Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR). Hip, Knee & Shoulder Arthroplasty: 2025 Annual Report. Adelaide: AOA; 2025.