HonorHealth First In Nation To Use New Handheld Robotics For Joint Replacement

                                                  
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Media Contact:
Bill Baer
602-469-0088
bibaer@honorhealth.com
 
HonorHealth first in nation to use new handheld robotics for joint replacement
 
Scottsdale, Ariz. (March 9, 2026) – HonorHealth, a leading Valley-based nonprofit healthcare system serving more than five million people in the greater Phoenix area, today announced it is the first health system in the nation to perform joint replacement surgery using Stryker’s new Mako RPS handheld robotics technology, bringing a new level of precision and personalization to orthopedic care in Arizona.
 
The advanced device enhances the surgeon’s ability to plan and perform joint replacement procedures with real-time data and robotic guidance. Unlike traditional techniques, the handheld robotics system allows surgeons to make highly accurate bone preparation and implant placement decisions tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy.
 
By combining advanced robotics with the expertise of HonorHealth’s board-certified orthopedic surgeons, patients may benefit from more precise implant positioning, improved alignment and a personalized surgical experience.
 
“This technology allows us to deliver highly personalized care with an unprecedented level of accuracy and precision,” said Doug Werner, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at HonorHealth. “It gives us the ability to plan each procedure in meticulous detail while remaining adaptable in the operating room.  This combination of precision and flexibility helps us optimize alignment, protect healthy tissue, and ultimately improve patient outcomes - enabling patients to move better, experience less pain, and recover with greater confidence.”
 
“Bringing this handheld robotics technology to HonorHealth reflects our commitment to investing in innovations that support patient care,” said Gayle Cassidy, AVP, HonorHealth Orthopedics. “This technology has the potential to reduce case time and anesthesia exposure, and it may eliminate the need for pre-operative radiation or full-leg CT scans in some cases. Most importantly, it supports our goal of delivering safer, more personalized joint replacement care for the communities we serve.”
 
HonorHealth Orthopedics is known for minimally invasive techniques and collaborative care that supports patients before, during and after surgery. The integration of this new technology demonstrates HonorHealth’s commitment to pairing leading-edge tools with clinical expertise to deliver safer, more personalized joint replacement.
 
The first procedure was completed on January 13, 2026, at HonorHealth Sonoran Crossing Medical Center and more than 55 cases have been performed so far.