CHRISTUS Health has completed its first robot-assisted total shoulder replacement, performed by Dr. Azael Arizpe in Tyler. The procedure used the Mako SmartRobotics shoulder platform, which helps surgeons carry out a surgical plan with greater precision. CHRISTUS Health already uses the technology for hip and knee replacements.
The maker of the Mako unit confirmed that the procedure was the first of its kind in East Texas using the technology and the second in Texas.
Arizpe said shoulder implant placement affects how the joint works after surgery. "This platform allows us to take the detailed surgical plan we've developed before surgery and execute it with an even greater level of precision," he said. Shoulder replacement can help patients with significant pain, weakness and limited mobility caused by advanced arthritis or severe rotator cuff damage. Some patients may receive a reverse shoulder replacement. Arizpe said the technology may help with implant positioning, range of motion and the long-term durability of the replacement.