A Sunshine Coast surgeon has become the first in Australia to perform a reverse total shoulder replacement using the next generation of robotic-arm technology.
Dr Joe Coory performed the procedure at Maroochy Private Hospital earlier this month, using Mako 4, the fourth-generation robotic-arm system developed by medical technology company Stryker.
The milestone comes just 14 months after Dr Coory helped bring robotic shoulder surgery to the Sunshine Coast.
Since performing his first robotic shoulder replacement in August 2025, he has completed more than 100 procedures.
“It’s an honour, and humbling, to be chosen as the first in Australia,” Dr Coory said.
“It’s recognition of the team we’ve built here on the Sunshine Coast and the work we’ve put into the development of robotic shoulder surgery.”
Mako uses three-dimensional CT imaging to create a surgical plan based on each patient’s anatomy. During surgery, the robotic arm provides real-time guidance as the bone is prepared, while the surgeon remains in complete control.
The new Mako 4 system features a larger screen, a more mobile robotic arm, an upgraded camera with a higher refresh rate and quieter operation.
“It’s a bit like going from an iPhone 16 to an iPhone 18 Pro Max,” Dr Coory said.
“The planning is the same, and the surgeon still places the implant where it’s been planned, but the process of getting there is more elegant.”
Mako 4 uses Stryker’s latest shoulder surgery software, with further capabilities expected over the next 12 to 18 months.
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Dr Coory is currently using the technology for reverse total shoulder replacement, with plans to expand its use to anatomic total shoulder replacement. Stryker also plans to roll out the shoulder surgery at other centres across Australia.
For patients, the process does not change the usual hospital stay or rehabilitation process.
Its primary benefit is providing the surgical team with more advanced technology to plan and execute the procedure with precision based on each patient’s individual anatomy.
The national milestone comes just months after Maroochy Private Hospital opened its doors in the heart of the Maroochydore City Centre.
Fortius Hospitals CEO Warwick Crosby said the achievement reflects the hospital’s focus on bringing advanced surgical technology to the region.
“Achieving a national first within months of opening highlights the calibre of our surgical team and the investment in a purpose-built healthcare facility focused on innovation and patient outcomes,” he said.
The 10-storey hospital focuses on a select number of high-demand specialties, with Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group, of which Dr Coory is a director, delivering its orthopaedic services from the ninth floor.
Dr Coory said having access to the latest robotic technology on the Sunshine Coast is significant for both patients and the region’s growing specialist healthcare sector.
“It shows that major companies like Stryker are willing to invest in technological advancement on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“Specialist healthcare on the Coast is entering a new era, and having this technology here first means our community is part of shaping what comes next.”
