In June 2026, Mr Shakir Hussain performed the Midlands' first revision knee replacement using the Smith and Nephew CORI robotic system, one of the first in the United Kingdom, at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Birmingham. The milestone gives patients whose knee replacements have failed access to robotic precision in revision surgery: real-time bone mapping with no CT scan, accurate bone preparation that preserves healthy bone, and objective alignment data throughout the operation.
A Midlands First at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital
Revision knee replacement, the surgery to replace a knee implant that has failed, is among the most technically demanding operations in orthopaedics. Robotic assistance for knee surgery in the UK has so far been largely confined to first-time (primary) knee replacement. In June 2026, Mr Shakir Hussain became the first surgeon in the Midlands, and one of the first in the UK, to perform a robotic revision knee replacement, using the Smith and Nephew CORI Surgical System at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Birmingham.
Mr Hussain is one of a small number of UK knee surgeons certified across all three major robotic platforms, MAKO, ROSA, and CORI, and revision surgery is a core part of his practice. Combining the two disciplines in a single operation is a natural step for his patients: those facing revision surgery now have access to the same robotic accuracy that primary knee replacement patients already benefit from.
What Is Revision Knee Replacement?
Revision knee replacement is surgery to remove a knee implant that has failed and replace it with a new one. Knee replacements can fail for several reasons: implant loosening, infection, instability, wear, or fracture around the implant. Each failure mode needs a different surgical plan, which is why revision surgery demands more experience and more planning than first-time knee replacement.
Compared with a primary knee replacement, revision surgery involves removing the old implant safely, dealing with the bone loss left behind, rebuilding a stable platform for the new implant, and restoring the alignment and balance of the leg. If you think your knee replacement may be failing, the signs and treatment options are explained on the failed knee replacement page, and the full surgical pathway on the revision surgery in Birmingham page.
How Does the CORI Robot Help in Revision Knee Surgery?
The CORI system solves a problem that has kept robotics out of revision knee surgery until now: most robotic platforms plan the operation from a pre-operative CT scan, and metal implants distort CT images. CORI needs no scan at all.
- Imageless, real-time mapping. CORI builds its surgical plan from a live map of the knee collected during the operation itself. In revision surgery, where the existing metal implant makes CT-based planning unreliable, the surgeon can map the bone that is actually there once the old implant has been removed, and plan the reconstruction on accurate, current information.
- Bone-preserving precision. Bone stock is precious in revision surgery; every millimetre of healthy bone preserved makes the reconstruction stronger. The robotically-controlled handheld burr works only within the planned boundaries, slowing or stopping if it strays, which protects the remaining bone while old cement and damaged surfaces are cleared.
- Objective alignment and balance data. Restoring a stable, well-aligned knee is the central challenge of revision surgery, especially when the usual anatomical landmarks have been altered by previous operations. CORI gives the surgeon live alignment and gap-balance measurements throughout, replacing estimation with data.
- Compact and adaptable. CORI's handheld design fits into the varied, unpredictable workflow of revision surgery more readily than a large robotic arm, and its fast setup adds little to operating time.
Revision knee surgery means rebuilding a knee where the normal landmarks are gone and the bone is already compromised. The CORI robot maps what is actually there, in theatre, in real time, and then helps the surgeon cut only what was planned and nothing more. Accuracy matters most precisely where there is least room for error.
What Does This Mean for Patients?
For patients facing revision knee replacement, robotic assistance offers the same advantages it brought to primary knee replacement: more accurate implant positioning, better protection of healthy tissue, and an operation planned on precise, individual anatomy rather than averages.
In revision surgery those advantages count double. A well-aligned, well-balanced revision knee is more stable, more comfortable, and better placed to last. Preserving bone during implant removal keeps future options open. And objective data during surgery supports the judgement that only experience can provide.
Robotics remains a tool, not a substitute for surgical expertise. The robot does not perform the operation; it sharpens the accuracy of the surgeon who does. That is why the combination matters: revision experience first, robotic precision in support.
Why Mr Hussain for Robotic Revision Knee Replacement?
Mr Hussain is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Birmingham, one of Europe's leading specialist orthopaedic centres, where complex revision surgery is part of his regular practice. He completed the British Hip Society Travelling Fellowship at the ENDO-Klinik Hamburg, the world-renowned centre for revision and prosthetic joint infection surgery, training under Professor Thorsten Gehrke and Professor Mustafa Citak.
He has performed more than 5,000 procedures, holds certification in all three major robotic platforms (MAKO, ROSA, and CORI), and now holds the distinction of having performed the Midlands' first CORI robotic revision knee replacement, one of the first in the UK. You can read more about his training and practice on the About Me page, or explore CORI robotic knee replacement in Birmingham in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is robotic revision knee replacement?
Robotic revision knee replacement uses a robotic system to plan and guide the replacement of a failed knee implant. The CORI system maps the knee in real time during surgery and controls the cutting instrument within planned boundaries, helping the surgeon prepare bone accurately and preserve as much healthy bone as possible.
Why is the CORI robot suited to revision knee surgery?
CORI is imageless: it builds its surgical plan from a live map of the knee taken during the operation, so it does not depend on a pre-operative CT scan. In revision surgery the existing metal implant distorts CT images, which makes scan-based robotic planning unreliable. CORI avoids that problem entirely.
Am I suitable for CORI robotic revision knee replacement?
Suitability depends on why your knee replacement has failed, how much bone remains, and your overall health. Mr Hussain assesses each revision individually and will recommend robotic assistance where it adds genuine value to your operation. The first step is a consultation with your X-rays and surgical history.
Where is robotic revision knee replacement available?
Mr Hussain performed the Midlands' first CORI robotic revision knee replacement, one of the first in the UK, at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Birmingham. He consults privately at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Priory Hospital Edgbaston, and Harborne Hospital.
Does robotic revision knee replacement take longer or cost more?
The CORI system is compact and fast to set up, so operating time is comparable to conventional revision surgery. Fees depend on the complexity of your revision and are confirmed in writing after your consultation; see the fees and insurance page for how pricing works.
Mr Shakir Hussain
Consultant Hip and Knee Surgeon at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Birmingham. Specialist in hip resurfacing, hip replacement, robotic knee replacement, and complex revision surgery.