MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center has made 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, and the first in California to pair Mako 4 SmartRobotics™ with the Q Guidance System. These milestones represent a significant advancement in orthopedic surgery and reinforce Long Beach Medical Center’s 117-year legacy of innovation and leadership in complex orthopedic care.
“Hip revision is exactly what it says: a revision, replacing the current hip with new parts,” said Andrew Wassef, M.D., medical director, MemorialCare Joint Replacement Center, Long Beach Medical Center. “There are multiple reasons people need a revision. The current implant may have loosened or just worn out over the years. There might be a mechanical problem: one leg could be shorter than the other. Other reasons: pain, stiffness, or infection.”
Hip revision surgeries are often performed years or even decades after an initial hip replacement. While many implants last 15 to 20 years, factors such as age, activity level, or complications can shorten that lifespan. Revision procedures are significantly more complex than primary hip replacements, requiring surgeons to navigate existing implants, scar tissue, and compromised bone quality—making preparation and precision critical…