The Future of Mobility: How Robotic-Assisted Joint Replacement Is Changing the Game in South Texas

4/6/2026

Imagine standing up, taking your first step without pain, and feeling nearly as confident as you did decades earlier — all because of a surgery planned with pinpoint precision and guided by robotic technology. Crossroads patients have access to advanced, robotic-assisted joint replacement surgery, often bringing greater precision, faster recovery and personalized results to orthopedic care close to home.

Once considered exclusive to major metropolitan hospitals, robotic-assisted joint replacement is now available locally, ensuring patients can receive advanced treatment without leaving the region.

Precision Meets Personalization

At the center of this innovation is a surgicalsystem, which DeTar purchased in 2023 as part of its commitment to expanding advanced orthopedic services. The system is used specifically for joint replacement procedures, offering patients a more precise and personalized surgical experience. This handheld, robotic-assisted technology uses image-free smart mapping to create a real-time 3D model of the patient’s knee joint during surgery, eliminating the need for preoperative CT or MRI scans.

The system allows surgeons to customize implant placement, perform intra-operative gap balancing to optimize soft tissue tension and alignment, and make real-time adjustments throughout the procedure. By removing only the bone within the surgeon-defined plan, the system supports improved alignment, a more natural joint feel and the potential for less post-operative pain and faster recovery for patients undergoing total or partial knee replacement at DeTar.

The technology enables surgeons to create a surgical plan tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy, guiding precise bone preparation and optimal implant positioning.

Dr. Douglas A. Matey III, orthopedic surgeon with Victoria Orthopedic Center, has been a key part of implementing this robotic technology at DeTar. He performed 10 successful robotic-assisted knee replacement surgeries in late 2025 and has completed 7 surgeries to date in 2026. “This technology allows us to perform joint replacement surgery with a higher level of accuracy and customization than ever before,” Dr. Matey said.

“It helps ensure a natural fit and better alignment, which can mean less pain, improved mobility, and a quicker recovery for our patients. Given the successful outcomes we have had since implementation in late 2023, I am pleased to see the increase in procedures as patients learn this technique is available close to home.”

The system provides surgeons with real-time data and enhanced precision, allowing exact adjustments throughout the procedure and helping ensure consistent, reproducible outcomes.

“Many patients aren’t yet aware of robotic-assisted procedures or the latest advancements in orthopedic surgery,” Dr. Matey added. “I hope to help raise awareness about these innovations and make them accessible to more patients throughout the Crossroads region.”

DeTar’s Commitment to Advanced Care

Brett Maxfield, CEO of DeTar Healthcare System, emphasizes that the addition of robotic-assisted technology reflects the hospital’s ongoing investment in innovation.

“Our goal is to continuously elevate the care we provide,” Maxfield said. “By offering robotic-assisted joint replacement right here in Victoria, our patients receive modern treatment close to home. It’s another example of how we’re putting advanced medicine to work for the people in the Crossroads.”

The DeTar Center for Joint Replacement supports patients through every step — from education and preparation before surgery to recovery and rehabilitation afterward.

Services include:

• Total Knee Replacement (TKR) – to relieve pain and restore mobility caused by osteoarthritis
• Partial Knee Replacement (PKR) – a less invasive option for early- to mid-stage arthritis in one area of the knee
• Hip Replacement Surgery – for patients with advanced joint degeneration
• Robotic-assisted surgery, combined with rehabilitation, helps patients regain strength and mobility more efficiently, ensuring continuity of care beyond the operating room.

Local Experience, Regional Access

Local orthopedic surgeons, working together with DeTar’s surgical and rehabilitation teams, provide a continuum of care for patients undergoing joint replacement — from pre-surgical assessment to outpatient rehabilitation.

This collaboration ensures that patients in the Crossroads region can receive personalized, advanced joint replacement surgery close to home without traveling to distant metropolitan centers.

Looking Forward

Knee replacement surgeries are on the rise nationwide, projected to increase by 180% by 2030. Last year, DeTar Hospital Navarro performed more than 300 joint replacement procedures. With robotic-assisted technology and the surgical system — purchased in 2023 to expand local access to advanced orthopedic care — DeTar continues to enhance surgical precision while offering rehabilitation services under one roof.

This approach reflects a broader trend in modern orthopedics: combining technology, local knowledge and patient-centered care to deliver outcomes that were previously only possible in larger urban hospitals — all while keeping treatment accessible to the community it serves.

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