The Big Picture
Utah patients now have access to a new option for shoulder replacement surgery. CommonSpirit’s Holy Cross Hospital – Davis has performed the state’s first Mako robot-assisted shoulder replacement, bringing technology already used in hip and knee procedures to one of the body’s most complex joints.
The system combines a patient’s preoperative CT scan with 3D planning and robotic guidance. It helps surgeons tailor implant placement to the patient’s anatomy while preserving the surgeon’s hands-on role throughout the operation.
What’s Happening
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Blatter performed the first procedure on Jason Simpson, a 53-year-old West Point resident who had lived with worsening shoulder pain for about 15 years. Previous motorcycle crashes and years of police work contributed to the damage, eventually disrupting Simpson’s sleep and limiting activities he enjoyed, including riding motorcycles and playing sports with his children.
After a successful traditional replacement on his right shoulder, Simpson returned to Dr. Blatter for treatment of his left shoulder. This time, Dr. Blatter offered the robot-assisted approach.
The technology does not operate independently or replace the surgeon. Before surgery, software uses a CT scan to help the surgical team plan implant size, position and alignment. In the operating room, Dr. Blatter guides a handheld robotic tool while the system maps the patient’s anatomy. Haptic safeguards help prevent the tool from moving beyond the boundaries established in the surgical plan.
“It’s still very hands-on,” Dr. Blatter said. “It helps to make me more accurate, more precise.”
Why It Matters
The shoulder relies on a complex combination of bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments to provide both movement and stability. Precise implant placement can help create a stable joint and support improved function following surgery.
For Simpson, the early recovery has been encouraging. He said he used less pain medication after the robot-assisted procedure than he did after his first shoulder replacement, although he could not say whether the difference came from the technology or simply knowing what to expect. He also said his physical therapist found that his range of motion was progressing faster at a similar point in recovery.
Dr. Blatter emphasized that technology is only one part of a successful outcome. Rehabilitation and patient participation remain essential in the weeks and months after surgery.
“He’s the one who’s put in the work after with the therapy,” Dr. Blatter said of Simpson. “We work together.”
The Bottom Line
Robot-assisted shoulder replacement gives Utah surgeons another tool to plan procedures around each patient’s anatomy and place implants with greater precision. For patients with severe arthritis, rotator cuff problems or chronic shoulder pain, it may offer a new path toward reduced pain, improved function and a better quality of life.
Simpson’s goal is straightforward: return to the activities pain forced him to give up. He plans to ride a Harley again and hopes his improved mobility will let him play sports with his grandchildren.
His advice to others living with persistent shoulder pain is equally direct: “I wish I’d done it sooner.”