A Fiji-born orthopaedic surgeon of Indian origin has made medical history in New Zealand’s Manawatū region by performing its first robotic-assisted knee replacement surgeries, ushering in a new era of advanced orthopaedic care.
Dr Murali Reddy carried out the landmark procedures at Crest Hospital using Stryker’s Mako Smart Robotics system, a cutting-edge technology designed to improve surgical precision and patient outcomes.
He observed in a LinkedIn post:
“Historic day at CREST Hospital with our first Mako Robotically assisted total knee replacement. An exciting day for the entire team involved, leadership and institution to make this possible for our patients in the beautiful Manawatu.”
The two knee replacement operations, performed on Thursday morning, were the first of their kind in the region. The robotic platform creates a detailed three-dimensional model of a patient’s anatomy using CT scans, allowing surgeons to plan procedures in advance and receive real-time guidance during surgery for accurate implant placement and alignment.
The patients who underwent the pioneering procedures told local media they were excited to be among the first in Manawatū to benefit from robotic-assisted joint replacement technology and were recovering well.
Dr Reddy’s journey spans three countries and decades of dedication to medicine. Born in Fiji, he moved to Auckland with his family at the age of nine and later attended Auckland Grammar School. He graduated from University of Auckland Medical School in 2001 before obtaining his orthopaedic fellowship through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association in 2011.
His specialist training took him across Australia and Canada, including advanced fellowships in shoulder, elbow and sports surgery in Sydney and Ontario, before he settled in Palmerston North in 2014.
Beyond his surgical practice, Dr Reddy supervises orthopaedic trainees at MidCentral Health and collaborates on research projects with Massey University.
Crest Hospital chief executive Lyn Horgan described the introduction of the Mako robotic system as a major step forward for healthcare in the region, providing local patients with access to advanced surgical technology previously unavailable in Manawatū.
The milestone follows extensive training undertaken by surgeons and theatre staff before the robotic system became operational, positioning the hospital at the forefront of modern joint replacement surgery in regional New Zealand.
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