Surgeons at Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC), which is part of Central Maine Healthcare (CMH), recently completed the 100th successful surgery using Stryker’s Mako™ robotic surgery.
The technology allows surgeons to perform arthroplasty, a procedure to restore the function of a joint, on both hips and joints, with unparalleled precision.
The Mako system uses 3D imaging and real-time data to guide surgeons during procedures, allowing for precise bone preparation and accurate implant placement. This level of precision can lead to better long-term function, increased implant longevity and reduced risk of complications.
CMMC is the only hospital in central Maine to use the Mako robotic equipment.
Michael DeFrance, DO, and other orthopedic surgeons at CMMC began using the Mako technology when it arrived in the fall of 2022. Dr. DeFrance says word about the cutting-edge surgery has been spreading quickly.
“I’ve been surprised by how many patients have come into the office asking for robotic joint replacements. It seems like a lot of patients-even through word of mouth-are hearing about their friends or neighbors or family members who’ve had robotic joint replacements performed by myself and getting referrals specifically asking for it.”
Dr. DeFrance says that while the 100th Mako surgery is a significant milestone, he and the staff expect to dramatically increase the number of robotic surgeries they perform in the years ahead.
Pictured: Michael MacLean, CST, Elizabeth Miller, RN, Michael DeFrance, DO; Elizabeth Harlow, PA, Tanya Lepage, CST, Orthopedics team leader