Robotic-Assisted Hip Replacement.
Precision-guided hip surgery using the latest robotic technology, performed by a senior orthopaedic specialist with over 30 years of clinical experience.
Robotic-assisted hip replacement combines proven implants and established surgical principles with computer-guided precision. For the right patient, it offers a more personalised approach to one of the most successful operations in modern medicine.
Dr Elie Khoury performs robotic-assisted hip replacement as part of a considered, evidence-based practice. He won't recommend a robotic procedure because it sounds advanced. He recommends it when it's genuinely the right choice for your hip, your anatomy and your long-term outcome.
What Is Robotic-Assisted Hip Replacement?
Robotic-assisted hip replacement is a total hip replacement performed with the support of a computer-guided robotic system. The surgery itself is performed by Dr Khoury. The robot is a tool that helps him plan and execute the procedure with greater precision.
Here's how it works:
Personalised pre-operative planning
Before surgery, you'll have a CT scan or 3D imaging of your hip. The robotic system uses these images to build a detailed 3D model of your anatomy. Dr Khoury then uses this model to plan exactly where the implant will sit, how the bone will be prepared, and how the joint will be balanced.
Surgeon-controlled, robot-guided execution
During surgery, Dr Khoury uses a robotic arm to assist with bone preparation and implant placement. The system gives real-time feedback and helps ensure the plan is executed within very tight tolerances.
Intra-operative adjustments
The system isn't fixed in advance. As Dr Khoury assesses your soft tissue tension, joint stability and limb alignment during surgery, he can adjust the plan in real time.
The result is a hip replacement that's planned around your anatomy and executed with a level of precision that's difficult to achieve with traditional instruments alone.
Is Robotic Hip Replacement Right For You?
Robotic-assisted technology is a useful tool. But like any tool, it's not the right choice for every patient or every hip.
You may be a candidate for robotic-assisted hip replacement if:
You've been recommended for a total hip replacement (the underlying clinical indication is the same as standard hip replacement)
Your anatomy is well-suited to robotic planning (most patients are, but some complex deformities or revisions may be better served by other techniques)
You're medically fit for the CT scan and operative time involved
You and Dr Khoury have discussed the relative merits for your specific case
Importantly, the decision about whether to use robotic assistance should never come at the expense of the right clinical decision. Some hips are better served by traditional technique. Some patients benefit from the precision of robotic planning. Dr Khoury's recommendation is always based on what's right for you, not on what's marketed most heavily.
Dr Khoury's Approach to Robotic Hip Replacement
Technology serves the surgery, not the other way around
Robotic systems are powerful tools, but they're tools. A good surgical outcome comes from clinical judgement, experience, and the right decisions made before, during and after the operation. Dr Khoury uses robotic assistance where it genuinely improves the outcome, and not where it doesn't add value.
Evidence over hype
The marketing around robotic surgery can be aggressive. Dr Khoury takes an evidence-based view. Current research suggests robotic-assisted hip replacement can improve implant positioning accuracy and may reduce soft tissue trauma in selected cases. Long-term outcome data is still maturing.
As Chair of the Australian Standards Committee for Surgical Implants, Dr Khoury has unusually deep insight into how implants perform across the broader Australian surgical population, and how technique impacts long-term outcomes.
A focus on long-term function
Precision in implant placement matters because small differences in positioning can affect joint mechanics, soft tissue balance, and implant longevity. Where robotic assistance can support better positioning for a particular patient, it's a useful addition to the procedure.
What To Expect - Before, During and After
Before surgery
Once a decision is made to proceed, you'll meet with Dr Khoury's perioperative team. This includes pre-operative imaging to build the planning model, plus your standard pre-admission work-up.
You may be asked to:
Complete pre-operative imaging, bloods and tests
Stop or adjust certain medications
Attend a pre-operative physiotherapy session
Prepare your home for the early weeks of recovery
Surgery day
Robotic-assisted hip replacement is performed under either general or spinal anaesthetic. The procedure itself is typically slightly longer than traditional hip replacement, owing to the additional planning steps. You'll typically stay in hospital for 2 to 5 days, depending on your recovery and home support.
Early recovery (weeks 1-6)
Most patients are up walking with assistance on the same day as surgery. Typical milestones:
Week 1: Walking short distances with aid, basic daily activities
Weeks 2-4: Increasing mobility, gradual return to light tasks at home
Week 6: Many patients return to driving (subject to Dr Khoury's clearance)
Full recovery (3-12 months)
Most patients feel substantially better by 3 months. Full recovery can take 6 to 12 months. With a well-performed hip replacement, modern implants are expected to last 20 years or more in most patients, regardless of whether traditional or robotic technique is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
It depends on the patient. Current evidence suggests robotic-assisted hip replacement can improve implant positioning accuracy in selected cases. Long-term outcome data is still maturing, and traditional hip replacement remains a highly successful procedure. Dr Khoury will recommend whichever technique is best suited to your anatomy and goals.
-
Implant longevity is determined by implant choice, surgical technique, activity level and patient factors, rather than the use of robotic assistance specifically. Modern hip implants are expected to last 20 years or more in most patients.
[ SIGN-OFF]
-
No. Robotic hip replacement requires specific training, accreditation, and experience. Dr Khoury is trained and experienced in robotic-assisted joint replacement.
-
Yes. Pre-operative imaging is used to build the personalised 3D model that guides the planning and execution of your surgery.
-
Yes. To see Dr Khoury, a referral from your GP is required which you can also request from your GP. Once you have it, our rooms will help you book a consultation.
-
Dr Khoury consults at three locations:
St Kilda Road Melbourne
the Mornington Peninsula at The Bays Hospital
Albury at the Gardens Specialist Centre.
Our team will help you find the most convenient location.
Why patients choose Dr Khoury for robotic hip surgery
Dr Elie Khoury is a senior orthopaedic specialist with over 30 years of clinical experience, dedicated to hip and knee surgery. He completed his fellowship at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford, one of the world's leading orthopaedic institutions, and has continued to build a practice grounded in evidence-based care. As Chair of the Australian Standards Committee for Surgical Implants, he brings exceptional depth of knowledge to implant selection and is skilled in both robotic-assisted and traditional surgical techniques.
To book, you'll need a referral from your GP. If you don't have one yet, your GP can refer you directly to Dr Khoury at any of our three locations.