01
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 knee replacement
Robotic knee replacement for a knee that fits you, not a generic target.
Knee replacement is not one-size-fits-all. Robotic planning can help measure your anatomy, arthritis pattern, and alignment so the plan is more specific to your knee.
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.
02
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.
01
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.
01
Why patients ask about robotics
Patients want to know whether technology can help make the operation more precise. The honest answer is that robotics is a tool. It helps most when it supports a thoughtful surgical plan.
02
What we review
We look at weight-bearing X-rays, arthritis location, deformity, ligament stability, stiffness, prior surgery, and your goals for walking, work, golf, hiking, or travel.
03
How I explain the choice
If robotics makes sense, I will explain why. If it does not add value for your situation, I will tell you that too.
04
What robotics can help with
Robotic planning can help measure alignment, bone cuts, implant position, and soft-tissue balance. That can be helpful when the knee has deformity, stiffness, or a need for patient-specific planning.
05
What robotics cannot promise
Robotics does not guarantee a painless knee or a faster recovery. Swelling, motion, strength, nerve sensitivity, sleep, and therapy still matter after surgery.
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.
01
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
02
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
03
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
04
What changes recovery planning
- Robotics does not replace therapy
- Swelling, strength, and motion still drive recovery
- Home help and travel timing still matter
Knee decision guide
Knee pain needs the right source, not a rushed answer.
Knee pain may come from arthritis, meniscus injury, ACL instability, tendon pain, referred pain, or a prior implant. The diagnosis guides the next step.
Think about 01
Try the right nonsurgical care
Therapy, bracing, medications, injections, PRP, BMAC, and activity changes can help the right patient.
Think about 02
Compare partial and total knee
Arthritis pattern, ligaments, alignment, pain location, and goals decide whether partial knee replacement is realistic.
Think about 03
Use robotics or revision workup when it fits
Robotic planning may help with selected knee replacements. Painful implants need old records and a careful revision evaluation.
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.
01
What robotics does
Robotics can support patient-specific planning, measurements, bone preparation, and component positioning when it fits the case.
PlanningMeasurementExecution support
02
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.
01
Robotic hip and knee education
02
Plain-language technology discussion
03
Surgeon-led planning and execution
You may be ready to schedule if
Knee arthritis with persistent pain
Interest in alignment and balancing technology
Questions about partial versus total knee replacement
Desire for a clear recovery plan
You want a clear explanation of personalized alignment
You are comparing partial knee, total knee, robotic knee, and nonsurgical care
You want to understand what technology changes and what it does not
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.
01
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.
02
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.
03
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.
04
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 robotic knee replacement guarantee faster recovery?
No. Recovery depends on swelling, motion, strength, pain control, therapy, and your overall health.
Can robotics be used for partial knee replacement?
Sometimes. The answer depends on the arthritis pattern, ligaments, alignment, and surgical plan.
Is the surgeon still in control?
Yes. Robotics supports the plan; the surgeon makes the clinical decisions and performs the operation.
Does the robotic system decide my alignment?
No. The system helps measure and execute the plan. The surgeon decides what alignment and balance make sense for the knee.
Keep reading
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.
