Baptist Health performs one of world's first total shoulder replacements using new robot technology

LOUISVILLE, KY (August 24, 2026) - Baptist Health has become one of the first healthcare providers in the world to perform a shoulder joint replacement utilizing the advanced CORI XT surgical robotic system.

The procedure was performed last week at Baptist Health’s River Ridge Surgical Suites in Jeffersonville, IN by Ryan Eads, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Baptist Health Sports Medicine.

Created by Smith+Nephew, the technology gives surgeons real-time 3D mapping and handheld robotic precision to help place implants more accurately.

“There's a screen at the foot of the bed that has the CT scan of the patient’s shoulder. The robotic device is attached to the burr (saw). I'm looking at the screen and at the patient, and the burr essentially won't let me cut where it's not supposed to cut,” Dr. Eads explained. “The device will burr where you need and as soon as you try to go somewhere else it just pulls in and stops.”

The CORI XT system uses ultra-precise optical tracking and real-time intraoperative data to allow the surgical team to tailor implant fit and alignment to the patient’s exact joint mechanics while physically safeguarding surrounding tissue.

Bringing CORI XT to the Baptist Health orthopedic team provides patients with a fit tailored to their exact joint structure and a smoother path to recovery whether they have surgery in the hospital or an outpatient center.

“I just love that Baptist Health supports this new technology and made sure that we were some of the first people to get it, the first in the region and I think fifth in the world,” Dr. Eads said. 

“I really appreciate the support now everyone is able to see what kind of benefit this would be for patients, so that we can deliver this kind of cutting-edge care.”