Mako® Shoulder certified. Dr. Boubekri combines Mako certification with fellowship training at Washington University and membership in the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES). He is currently the only Mako-certified, ASES fellowship-trained shoulder and elbow surgeon in the Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch region.
© StrykerRobotic Assistance for Reverse Shoulder Replacement
Reverse shoulder replacement relies on placing the socket-side implant (the glenoid baseplate) in precisely the right position. This is widely regarded as one of the most technically demanding steps of the operation, and the position can affect stability and how well the shoulder works.
Mako Shoulder from Stryker brings three things together: 3D preoperative planning (Blueprint®), the Mako robotic arm, and Tornier® Perform™ reverse glenoid implants. The robotic arm uses AccuStop™ haptic technology, a virtual boundary that helps the surgeon prepare the glenoid surface, central boss and post or screw to match the plan.
How It Works
CT scan and 3D plan
A thin-slice CT scan of your shoulder is uploaded to Blueprint software. Dr. Boubekri studies your anatomy and plans implant size, position and orientation before surgery.
Plan loaded into the robot
The approved plan is converted into a file for the Mako system. In the operating room, landmarks on your bone are registered so the robot knows exactly where your shoulder sits.
Surgeon-controlled preparation
Dr. Boubekri guides the robotic arm while its haptic boundary helps keep the bone preparation within the plan. The implants are then placed and the operation is completed.
© Stryker
© StrykerWhat the Evidence Shows
The research on robotic-assisted reverse shoulder replacement is early but encouraging:
- In a validation study using bone models, surgeons prepared the socket and placed implants closer to the plan with the robotic arm than with manual instruments.1
- In a single-surgeon review of 103 reverse replacements, robotic assistance made implant inclination more consistent, and no robotic case strayed more than 10° from plan, compared with 4 of 42 conventional cases. The difference in average error was not statistically significant.2
An honest note: these studies measure how accurately the plan is carried out. Long-term outcomes such as function and implant survival are still being studied. Mako is a precision tool in the hands of an experienced surgeon, not a guarantee.
Who May Be a Candidate
Mako Shoulder is used for primary reverse total shoulder replacement, commonly recommended for cuff tear arthropathy and for arthritis combined with a damaged rotator cuff. It is not currently used for anatomic replacement or for revision surgery.3 Not sure which operation fits your shoulder? Read our reverse vs. anatomic guide →
© StrykerRecovery
After surgery, recovery follows a standard reverse shoulder protocol: a period in a sling, then guided physical therapy to restore motion and build strength. Dr. Boubekri will give you the specific timeline for your situation.
Sources
- Athwal GS, et al. Glenoid preparation in reverse shoulder arthroplasty: robotic arm-assisted preparation compared to manual preparation and patient-specific guides. J Shoulder Elbow Surg.
- Robotic assistance improves reproducibility of planned glenoid baseplate inclination in reverse shoulder arthroplasty (PubMed)
- Robotic-assisted baseplate preparation in primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: surgical technique and contemporary review (PubMed)
- Stryker: Mako Shoulder
Images © Stryker, used with permission. Mako®, Blueprint®, Tornier®, Perform™ and AccuStop™ are trademarks of Stryker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the robot perform the surgery?
No. Dr. Boubekri performs the operation. The robotic arm is a tool he controls, and its haptic boundaries help keep the bone preparation inside the limits of the surgical plan.
Is Mako shoulder replacement faster to recover from?
Robotic assistance is designed to help execute the surgical plan more precisely, not to change how the shoulder heals. Recovery is typically similar to a conventional reverse shoulder replacement: a sling, then guided physical therapy.
Is Mako used for every shoulder replacement?
No. Mako Shoulder is currently used to assist glenoid (socket-side) preparation in primary reverse shoulder replacement. It is not used for anatomic replacements or for revision surgery, and Dr. Boubekri will tell you honestly whether it applies to your shoulder.
Is there proof it gives better results?
Early studies show robotic assistance helps achieve the planned implant position more consistently. Whether that translates into better long-term function or implant survival is still being studied, so it is best viewed as a precision tool rather than a guarantee.
Will I need a CT scan?
Yes. A CT scan of your shoulder, taken with a specific protocol before surgery, is used to build your 3D plan and to program the robot.
This page is for general education and is not a substitute for an evaluation. Every patient is different; your recommendations will depend on your exam, imaging, and goals.