LONG BEACH, Calif. — MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center has made medical history by becoming the first hospital in the world to successfully perform a robotic hip revision surgery using Stryker’s Mako Total Hip with 5.0 Advanced Primary and Revision application. The hospital also marks another milestone as the first in California to utilize the Mako 4 SmartRobotics™ platform paired with the Q Guidance System.
The landmark procedures represent a major advancement in orthopedic surgery and reinforce Long Beach Medical Center’s 117-year legacy of innovation, particularly in complex joint replacement and revision care.
Hip revision surgery is among the most challenging orthopedic procedures, typically required when a prior joint replacement fails due to complications such as implant loosening, instability, or infection. Unlike primary hip replacements, revision surgeries must account for existing implants, scar tissue, compromised bone quality, and longer recovery times. Approximately 70,000 hip revision surgeries are performed annually in the United States, a number expected to rise as life expectancy increases and more patients seek long-term joint mobility.
“We are incredibly proud to be the first medical center globally to perform a robotic hip revision using the Mako Total Hip with 5.0 software,” said Dr. Andrew Wassef, medical director of the MemorialCare Joint Replacement Center at Long Beach Medical Center. “This milestone reflects our commitment to providing patients with the most advanced, personalized surgical options available, leading to improved outcomes and faster recovery.”
Dr. Wassef, a nationally recognized orthopedic surgeon, has completed more than 2,000 joint replacement surgeries using Mako technology. This procedure marked his first hip revision performed with the THA 5.0 robotic platform, a step he credits to years of experience and a patient-centered approach to care.
The Mako 4 SmartRobotics™ system represents the latest evolution in robotic-assisted joint surgery. Using 3D CT-based planning and AccuStop™ haptic technology, the platform enables surgeons to perform highly precise, customized procedures while preserving healthy bone and tissue. When combined with the Q Guidance System, surgeons receive live intraoperative tracking, enhancing accuracy in even the most complex revision cases. The Mako 4 platform will serve as the foundation for all future Mako upgrades.
Hospital leaders say the achievement underscores Long Beach Medical Center’s continued leadership in advancing surgical care and improving outcomes for patients nationwide.