News

Queensland Achieves Milestone with First GPS-Navigated Total Ankle Replacement Surgery

Apr 28, 2026

In a major surgical breakthrough for Queensland, surgeons at John Flynn Private Hospital have successfully performed the state’s first total ankle replacement using a cutting-edge GPS guidance system, redefining what’s possible in ankle replacement surgery.

Dr Hugh Won and his team said the landmark procedure utilised the Exactech GPS system, a real-time computer navigation technology that enabled surgeons to plan and perform ankle replacements with unprecedented accuracy.

“While ankle replacements have existed for decades, they have lagged behind hip and knee procedures in accessing advanced navigation technology,” Dr Won said. 

Until now, surgeons have relied on conventional instruments and custom guides, with a degree of estimation required during these highly complex operations.”

Dr Won said the milestone represented a turning point for ankle surgery in Australia, marking a significant development not just for surgeons, but also patients that have the potential to benefit from a higher degree of surgical accuracy.

“For the first time, we can use real-time data to guide every step of the procedure, rather than relying on visual judgement alone. That level of precision has simply not been possible in ankle replacements until now,” he said. 

“Critical factors such as implant alignment, positioning, and ligament balance that were once difficult to measure, can now be assessed and adjusted during surgery with pinpoint precision.

“The potential implications for patients are substantial, with improved surgical accuracy
helping to achieve better function, maximising mileage for the implants, and ultimately, better patient satisfaction,” he said.

The successful procedure reinforces Ramsay Health Care’s leadership in adopting advanced surgical technologies and establishes a new benchmark for orthopaedic care across the state. In a significant advancement, orthopaedic surgeon Dr Andrew McBride recently performed the region’s first total shoulder replacement using the MAKO robotic system at John Flynn Private Hospital.