Robotic Total Hip Replacement
Robotic Hip Replacement in Glendale, AZ
Total hip replacement replaces the worn ball and socket of the hip with smooth implant components designed to relieve arthritis pain and restore mobility. Dr. James MacKenzie performs Mako robotic-arm assisted total hip replacement in Glendale, Arizona, using a three-dimensional plan built from a CT scan of your own anatomy to guide implant position and leg length. Patients come to Arizona Sports Medicine Center from Peoria, Surprise, Sun City, and across the West Valley.
Why patients choose Dr. MacKenzie
- Board-certified orthopedic surgeon
- Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (FAAOS)
- Johns Hopkins residency, sports medicine fellowship
- Former assistant team physician, Miami Dolphins & Miami Heat
- Nonsurgical options first, surgery only when needed
- Se habla español
Who Hip Replacement Helps
Hip replacement is designed for hips where cartilage loss has left bone on bone, most commonly from osteoarthritis, and also for avascular necrosis, inflammatory arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and certain hip fractures. The typical story is groin or deep hip pain that worsens with walking and standing, stiffness that makes putting on socks and shoes difficult, a limp, and pain that has stopped responding to therapy, medication, and injections.
What “Robotic” Means for Your Hip
Dr. MacKenzie uses the Mako robotic-arm assisted surgery system. Before your operation, you will have a CT scan of your hip and pelvis, which Mako turns into a 3D model. He plans the size and position of the socket and stem on that model and sets targets for leg length and offset, two of the details that most affect how a new hip feels. During surgery, the robotic arm helps him prepare the socket and place the implant to that plan. Dr. MacKenzie also performs manual hip replacement and uses robotics when it benefits the patient.
Nonsurgical Care Comes First
Activity modification, physical therapy, weight management, anti-inflammatory medication, and injections help many patients manage hip arthritis for years. Dr. MacKenzie may recommend replacement when pain limits sleep, walking, and daily life despite those measures and imaging confirms advanced joint damage.
What to Expect
Hip replacement typically takes one to two hours under spinal or general anesthesia. Many patients stand and walk with assistance the same day, and many go home the same day or after one night. Therapy begins right away. Many patients walk without a walker within a few weeks, return to driving at about four to six weeks, and resume low-impact activities such as walking, cycling, swimming, and golf by about three months. Individual results vary.
Risks
Risks of hip replacement include infection, blood clots, dislocation, leg length difference, fracture, nerve or blood vessel injury, implant loosening or wear over time, and the possibility of revision surgery. Dr. MacKenzie reviews your individual risk profile with you, and his planning and technique are designed to keep these risks as low as possible. Individual results vary.
Why Patients Choose Dr. MacKenzie
Dr. MacKenzie is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with training from The Johns Hopkins Hospital and a sports medicine fellowship in Miami, and experience in manual and robotic hip, knee, and shoulder replacement. He takes a patient-first approach and explains what he sees on your imaging in plain language so the decision is yours. Meet Dr. MacKenzie.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Don’t see your question here? Our team is happy to help.
How long does a hip replacement last?
Modern hip implants have a strong long-term record, and many patients enjoy their new hip for 20 years or more. Accurate component position, which robotic planning is intended to support, is one factor in longevity.
Will I need a CT scan before robotic hip replacement?
Yes. Mako robotic hip replacement is planned from a CT scan of your hip and pelvis taken before surgery. Our team schedules the scan as part of your surgical preparation, and the results are used to build the 3D model Dr. MacKenzie plans from.
Will my legs be the same length after hip replacement?
Restoring equal leg length is a specific goal of the preoperative plan, and robotic assistance is intended to help achieve it. Dr. MacKenzie will discuss your individual anatomy with you.
Can I have hip replacement as an outpatient?
Many healthy patients with good support at home go home the same day. Dr. MacKenzie will recommend the setting that is safest for you.
Does insurance cover robotic hip replacement?
Hip replacement for arthritis is generally covered by insurance, including Medicare, when medically necessary. Robotic assistance does not typically change your coverage. Our office verifies your benefits before scheduling.
Schedule a Consultation with Dr. MacKenzie
Call the office or request an appointment online and our team will help you take the next step.