The first robotic total hip replacement in Hawai‘i

Robotic assistance reached knee replacement years before it reached hips — the hip's deep anatomy made robotic workflows harder to build. When the ROSA® Hip platform arrived in Hawai‘i in early 2022, Dr. Morton — the first surgeon in Hawai‘i fellowship-trained in robotic joint replacement — performed the state's first robotic-assisted total hip replacement shortly after. The operation went as planned: precise cup placement, verified leg length, and a patient up walking the same day.

Two numbers rule hip replacement outcomes: cup position and leg length. A component a few degrees outside the safe zone raises dislocation and wear risk; a few millimeters of leg-length difference is something patients feel every step. Robotic guidance measures both in real time during surgery instead of estimating by eye — which is why Dr. Morton made it his standard for robotic hip replacement, layered on the muscle-sparing anterior approach and bikini incision option.

Before 2022, patients wanting robotic hip surgery flew to the mainland. After it, the technology lived here in the islands — with same-day discharge, opioid-sparing anesthesia, and, within the same year, a smart knee first and a Big Island robotic first. The nickname it earned him is explained on The Robot Doc page.