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Tell the story
Dr. Morton starts with what happened, what has changed, what you have already tried, and what you need your body to do again.
Robotic hip replacement
Robotic hip replacement explained in plain language.
Robotic technology can help with planning and implant positioning, but it does not replace judgment. I use it as a tool when it fits the patient, the anatomy, and the goals of surgery.
Online booking in about a minuteHMSA, Medicare & other major plansHonolulu · West Oahu · Hilo · KonaTelehealth for neighbor islands
Board-certifiedFellowship-trainedFAAOS / FAAHKSRobotic hip & kneeRevision expertiseHawaii roots
How the visit works
You should leave with a clearer plan than when you arrived.
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Look at the source
Your exam and imaging help separate arthritis, injury, implant problems, referred pain, and other causes that can feel similar.
03
Choose the next step
The plan may be therapy, bracing, injections, orthobiologics, arthroscopy, robotic surgery, revision workup, or a clear reason to wait.
Before you book
The first visit is better when the story is organized.
Joint Replacement Hawaii has always asked practical questions before the appointment because the details matter: what hurts, where it hurts, what you have tried, and what life activity you want back.
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What are you having trouble with?
Getting in and out of a car
Getting up from a chair
Stairs
Walking long distances
Pain at night
Exercise, sports, or work
02
What are you noticing?
Swelling
Instability or giving way
Stiffness or limited motion
Catching or locking
Grinding
Difficulty bearing weight
03
What have you already tried?
Physical therapy
Brace, cane, walker, or crutches
Steroid or gel injections
PRP or BMAC questions
NSAIDs or Tylenol
Prior arthroscopy or surgery
Before you decide
The conversation I want patients to understand.
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Why patients ask about robotics
Patients want accuracy, confidence, and a better understanding of the plan. Robotics can help us measure and plan, especially when anatomy or goals deserve extra precision.
02
What we review
We look at your X-rays, hip shape, arthritis severity, leg length, medical history, activity goals, and whether anterior hip replacement or robotic planning fits your case.
03
What robotics does not do
The robot does not make the decision and it does not guarantee a result. It is one part of a careful hip replacement plan led by the surgeon.
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What robotics can help with
Robotic planning can help us understand anatomy, component position, leg length, offset, and implant goals before and during surgery. It is useful when it supports the larger surgical plan.
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What robotics cannot promise
The robot does not remove surgical risk, guarantee a result, or replace judgment. The plan still depends on diagnosis, anatomy, bone quality, health, and recovery support.
How I think through the recommendation
The decision should be explained, not handed to you.
Patients should know what would make us wait, what would make treatment reasonable, what might require more testing, and what changes recovery planning.
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What may make us use standard planning
- Robotics does not add meaningful value for the case
- Anatomy or implant choice points another way
- The patient needs a simpler or different pathway
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What may make robotics useful
- Patient-specific alignment or component planning matters
- Partial knee or complex anatomy is being discussed
- Hip leg length, stability, or implant position needs careful planning
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What may mean more tests
- Updated X-rays are needed
- CT-based planning is required for the system
- Prior surgery or deformity changes the plan
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What changes recovery planning
- Robotics does not replace therapy
- Swelling, strength, and motion still drive recovery
- Home help and travel timing still matter
Hip decision guide
Make sure the hip is really the source before choosing treatment.
Groin pain, thigh pain, back pain, SI joint pain, tendon pain, avascular necrosis, and implant pain can overlap. The first step is understanding the source.
Think about 01
When nonsurgical care still fits
Therapy, medication, activity changes, injections, and time may still make sense when symptoms and images do not line up with surgery.
Think about 02
When replacement enters the conversation
When arthritis or AVN limits life despite good care, we talk through approach, robotics, risks, recovery, and home support.
Think about 03
When old implants hurt
Pain after hip replacement needs records, images, and a careful search for instability, loosening, infection, fracture, or referred pain.
For informed patients
The details matter, especially when the decision is not simple.
If you are comparing surgeons, robotics, revision care, injections, or recovery plans, these are the questions I want you to feel comfortable asking.
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What robotics does
Robotics can support patient-specific planning, measurements, bone preparation, and component positioning when it fits the case.
PlanningMeasurementExecution support
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What robotics does not do
It does not guarantee a perfect outcome, do the surgery alone, or replace surgeon judgment.
No guaranteeSurgeon controls the operationRecovery remains patient-specific
Patient words
The trust signal should match the decision.
Patients are looking for listening, clear explanations, office kindness, and a plan that makes sense for their specific problem.
Patient trust
Robotics should be explained, not hyped.
Patients ask about robotic surgery because they want accuracy and confidence. Dr. Morton explains where the technology helps and where surgeon judgment still leads.
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Robotic hip and knee education
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Plain-language technology discussion
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Surgeon-led planning and execution
You may be ready to schedule if
Hip arthritis with activity-limiting pain
Questions about implant position and planning
Interest in direct anterior or minimally invasive options
Need for clear recovery planning
You want leg length and stability discussed before surgery
You want to understand robotic planning without sales pressure
You are comparing anterior hip, robotic hip, and standard hip replacement
Why patients choose this practice
Robotic hip and knee replacement experience in Hawaii
Technology explained in plain language, with surgeon judgment leading the plan
Recovery guidance built around home support, travel, and real life
Recommendations are based on symptoms, exam, imaging, health, and goals
Robotic technology is explained as a planning tool, not a promise
If surgery is not the right next step, that should be clear too
Older patients and caregivers
Older patients and caregivers deserve a clear plan too.
Safety, medications, stairs, rides, hearing, memory, home help, and caregiver questions can change the recommendation and the recovery plan.
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Who should come with you
Bring the person who helps with medications, rides, meals, stairs, wound checks, or remembering instructions. A second set of ears helps.
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How to plan home safety
Think about loose rugs, bathroom setup, stairs, lighting, pets, walking aids, shower safety, and where you will sleep the first few nights.
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When to call the office
Call for worsening wound redness, drainage, fever, severe swelling, a fall, medication confusion, or symptoms that do not match your instructions.
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When not to wait
Chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, stroke-like symptoms, major deformity, or dangerous symptoms need emergency care.
Helpful to bring
X-rays, MRI, CT scans, or reports if you already have them
Where the pain starts, where it travels, and what it stops you from doing
Prior injections, therapy, medications, braces, or operations
Your goals for work, walking, golf, hiking, sports, travel, and recovery
Make the visit count
Bring the story, not just the scan.
Imaging helps, but the story matters too: what changed, what you tried, what failed, and what life you want back. This is especially important for revision opinions, prior surgery, and neighbor island travel.
Recovery preview
Use the joint replacement recovery guide
Robotics may help planning, but recovery still depends on swelling, motion, walking, wound care, and home support.
First 72 hours
Home safety
Milestones
Patient questions
Questions I hear in the office.
Does the robot do the surgery?
No. I perform the surgery. The robotic system helps with planning and execution when it is useful for the case.
Is robotic hip replacement right for everyone?
No. It depends on anatomy, imaging, health, and what problem we are trying to solve.
Why does leg length matter?
In Hawaii, people often wear slippers or walk barefoot. Even small leg-length differences can be noticeable, so we talk about it carefully.
Is robotic hip replacement safer?
It may help with planning and precision in appropriate cases, but safety still depends on the diagnosis, patient health, surgical judgment, and recovery plan.
Mahalo
You do not have to figure this out alone.
If pain, injury, arthritis, or an old implant is keeping you from life, bring your questions. Dr. Morton and the team will help you understand the problem and the next step.
Written for patients by the practice
Orthopedic guidance should be clear enough to help you make a real decision.
Dr. Paul Norio Morton created Joint Replacement Hawaii to help patients understand hip pain, knee pain, arthritis, sports injuries, robotic joint replacement, revision surgery, injections, and recovery before they come in for a visit.
