In 2019, the philanthropic voice of our St. Joseph Hospital community was heard after hundreds of donations helped fund the purchase of the Mako RIO® Robotic-Arm Interactive Orthopedic System from Stryker Corporation. As a result, St. Joseph Hospital became the first hospital in Orange County to offer MAKOplasty® robotic-assisted partial knee and total hip replacement surgery.

The RIO system gives surgeons better predictability in surgical outcomes by enabling them to create a 3D model of the patient’s anatomy prior to surgery, thereby allowing for precise preoperative planning. This, paired with the technology’s minimally invasive capabilities, typically yields positive results for patients, including less blood loss, lower rate of bone and soft tissue damage, reduced length of stay, and less post-operative pain. Within two weeks of surgery, patients often experience an excellent return of motion with minimal pain.

“The most rewarding aspect of utilizing robotics in joint replacement surgery is seeing how patients recover faster and with a significantly lower rate of complications than they would with traditional surgery,” says Dr. Ayaz Biviji, orthopedic surgeon at St. Joseph Hospital. “Without the generous support our St. Joseph Hospital communities have shown, we would be unable to acquire the advanced surgical technologies our patients have come to rely on at St. Joseph Hospital.”

With a strong commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care for patients, the St. Joseph Hospital Orthopedics Program utilizes a comprehensive team approach, resulting in national acclaim for the program.

To help the Orthopedics Program continue to offer life-changing procedures through surgical technology such as the Mako RIO Robotic-Arm Interactive Orthopedic System, please visit sjo.org/foundation.