Knee and Hip Replacement with Mako in Hilo
Dr. Peter Matsuura has spent his career helping people stay active. Fellowship-trained in sports medicine, he understands how joints move, how they wear down, and what it takes to get you moving again. Today, he brings that experience to knee and hip replacement using the Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System from Stryker, right here at Hilo Community Surgery Center.
Mako starts with a 3D model built from a CT scan of your own joint, so your procedure is planned around your unique anatomy before surgery begins. In the operating room, the robotic arm helps Dr. Matsuura carry out that plan with a high degree of precision.
How Mako Works: Scan. Plan. Mako Can.
Mako SmartRobotics combines 3D CT-based planning with AccuStop haptic technology in one system. Every procedure follows the same three ideas.
- Scan: A CT scan shows Dr. Matsuura your individual anatomy, including bone spurs (osteophytes), cysts, and bone defects. It is not an estimate of your bone. It is a picture of your bone.
- Plan: Using that 3D model, Dr. Matsuura creates a personalized surgical plan. He chooses the implant size, orientation, and alignment that fit you, and he can adjust the plan during surgery if needed.
- Mako Can: AccuStop haptic technology sets virtual boundaries based on your plan. It gives audible, visual, and tactile feedback that helps Dr. Matsuura stay within those boundaries as he prepares the bone and places the implant.
The system supports your surgeon. It does not replace him. Dr. Matsuura is in control of every step of your surgery.
Mako Total Knee Replacement
Knee replacement relieves the pain caused by joint degeneration from osteoarthritis. Mako Total Knee pairs the robotic-arm system with Stryker’s Triathlon Total Knee System and has been used in over 1 million procedures worldwide.
In clinical studies, compared to manual knee replacement surgery, Mako Total Knee:
- Enabled surgeons to execute their surgical plans more accurately
- Protected soft tissue and ligaments from damage
- Resulted in lower pain scores and better patient satisfaction scores among patients surveyed three years after surgery
Mako Total Hip Replacement
Mako Total Hip uses CT-based 3D modeling and planning to help position your new hip. It is designed to support the surgical approach your surgeon prefers, including direct anterior, posterolateral, anterolateral, and direct superior. More than 250,000 Mako Total Hip procedures have been performed to date.
In clinical studies, compared to manual hip replacement surgery, Mako Total Hip demonstrated:
- More accurate placement and alignment of hip implants based on the surgical plan
- Less likelihood of hip dislocation
- Reduced blood loss
- Preservation of healthy bone
Mako Partial Knee Replacement
If arthritis affects only part of your knee, a partial knee replacement may be an option. In clinical studies, compared to manual partial knee replacement, Mako Partial Knee demonstrated more accurate bone removal, less pain in the days and weeks after surgery, a shorter hospital stay, and a quicker recovery. In one study, 9 out of 10 patients were walking without a cane or walker three weeks after surgery. Mako Partial Knee has also shown 98% survivorship at 10 years of follow-up.
Why Choose Dr. Matsuura and Hilo Community Surgery Center
Technology is only half the story. At our center, you won’t wait months on a hospital list or feel like a number. You will see the same surgeon from your first consultation through your recovery, and our team will take the time to answer every question.
- Experience: Dr. Matsuura brings 30 years of orthopaedic private practice experience, plus extra training and certification in robotic-arm assisted joint procedures.
- Proven surgery center: Hilo Community Surgery Center has 26 years of surgical care for East Hawaii and has invested in the Stryker Mako system for total hip and total knee replacement.
- Care close to home: You recover at home, and there is no travel off island for your surgery.
- Same-day recovery at home: Eligible patients go home the same day and recover in the comfort of their own home.
Excellent Care Without the Hospital Price Tag
Hilo Community Surgery Center is a private outpatient surgery center, so eligible patients can have joint replacement without the inpatient facility fees that hospitals typically charge. Patients benefit from lower copayments than the higher facility fees charged at the hospital. Medicare and most major insurance plans cover outpatient knee and hip replacement for qualified patients. Call us and we’ll help you understand your costs before you decide.
From Sports Medicine to Joint Replacement
“For years, I’ve helped athletes return to the activities they love. Joint replacement is the same goal, just a different stage of life. Whether you want to walk the bayfront, paddle, garden, or keep up with your grandchildren, my job is to get you back to it.” — Dr. Peter Matsuura
Mako Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery?
Mako is a surgical system from Stryker that combines a 3D model built from your CT scan with a robotic arm. Dr. Matsuura uses the model to plan your surgery, and the arm helps him carry out that plan during knee or hip replacement.
Does the robotic arm perform my surgery?
No. Dr. Matsuura performs your surgery and is in control at every step. The system gives him a personalized plan and AccuStop haptic feedback that helps him stay within the boundaries he set before surgery.
Why do I need a CT scan?
The CT scan lets Dr. Matsuura see your individual anatomy, including bone spurs, cysts, and bone defects. He uses it to build your personalized surgical plan before you ever enter the operating room.
Am I a candidate for Mako knee or hip replacement?
Candidacy depends on your joint condition, your overall health, and your goals. The best way to find out is a consultation with Dr. Matsuura. One call, one conversation, no runaround.
Will I stay overnight in a hospital?
Eligible patients have their surgery at Hilo Community Surgery Center and go home the same day to recover in their own home. Dr. Matsuura will tell you at your consultation whether outpatient surgery is right for you.
Does insurance cover outpatient joint replacement?
Medicare and most major insurance plans cover outpatient knee and hip replacement for qualified patients. Call our office and we will help you understand your costs before you decide.
Is Mako better than traditional joint replacement?
In clinical studies, Mako has shown outcomes such as more accurate implant placement, less pain, and shorter recovery times compared to manual joint replacement. Results vary from patient to patient, and all surgery carries risks. Dr. Matsuura will review the benefits and risks with you.
Mako is not right for everyone. Talk with your surgeon about the risks, benefits, and your individual results. For important patient information, visit patients.stryker.com.
Find Out If Mako Is Right for You
Call (808) 969-3331 to schedule your orthopaedic consultation. Talk to Dr. Matsuura’s team today. We’ll walk you through your options and your costs.
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