Abacoa & Alton Neighbors - November 2025

N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 5 | A B A C O A & A LT O N N E I G H B O R S 5 • In standard surgery, the metal ball attaches to the upper part of the arm bone, while the replacement socket attaches to the shoulder blade • For reverse shoulder replacement surgery, the metal ball is attached to the shoulder blade, while the socket is placed and anchored into the upper arm by a metal stem ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR A REVERSE SHOULDER? Certain patients are eligible for reverse shoulder replacement surgery, says Dr. Hill. They include those with severe arthritis in the shoulder or large rotator cuff tears that cannot be repaired surgically; some patients simply prefer the reverse shoulder replacement over traditional shoulder replacement surgery, he adds. Common symptoms leading to shoulder replacement include: • Sudden injury to the shoulder or chronic pain • Pain that limits the ability to carry out activities of daily living (walking, moving, eating, dressing, personal care, lifting, exercising, etc.) • Difficulty playing or performing a favorite sport or hobby, such as golf, tennis, pickleball, softball, swimming, running, painting, quilting, gardening, musical instrument, etc. • Pain that keeps patients awake at night “Pain at night is the one that usually brings patients into my office,” he notes. “We all get miserable when we can’t get a good night’s sleep. This approach has been developed to work exactly as the shoulder is designed." “Jupiter Medical Center has done an outstanding job of staying at the forefront of medical technology,” he adds. “And as a community hospital, they’ve made significant investments in advanced surgical innovations to better serve their patients and our community. I’m proud to bring my patients there to benefit from this game-changing technology.” The same robotic surgery technology that enables precise orthopedic hip and knee replacements at Jupiter Medical Center now supports advanced shoulder replacement surgery, thanks to the Mako SmartRobotics™ Surgery system at The Anderson Family Orthopedic and Spine Center of Excellence. “Jupiter will be the first hospital in Southeast Florida to offer Mako robotic surgery for shoulders,” says Dr. Brian W. Hill, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in complex shoulder issues. “We continue to be positioned on the leading-edge of orthopedic joint replacement and repair, and we’ve invested in these new technologies to expand our specialties.” Powered by SmartRobotics™ technology, the new Mako robotic system for shoulder replacement is designed to provide accuracy and precision while supporting better long-term results for patients, says Dr. Hill, who performed his first surgery at Jupiter Medical Center in October. “I’m someone who gets excited about new technology,” he explains. “The Mako system is one more piece of innovative surgical technology that’s offering superior outcomes to patients.” REAL-TIME, ROBOTIC-POWERED PRECISION The equipment for shoulder surgery has emerged from similar technologies for personalized knee and hip replacement surgery, Dr. Hill says. Mako’s imaging technology maps a patient’s existing bone structure and alignment to create anatomically similar (or improved) replacement joints. Mako’s surgical components then allow surgeons to cut, shape, and position replacement prostheses in real time in the operating suite for accurate adjustments and fits. How does reverse shoulder replacement surgery differ from standard surgery? Both create for the patient a new ball-and-socket alignment between the upper arm and the shoulder blade. EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR – By Sue MacDonald – To learn more about robotic-assisted shoulder surgery at Jupiter Medical Center, contact the Orthopedic Navigator at 561-263-3633. Mako Robotic Shoulder Replacement Surgery NOW AVAILABLE AT JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER