Health Compass Newsletter

As of July, CMH is the only hospital on the Oregon and Washington coasts to have a Stryker Mako SmartRobotics system. The Mako has been the market leader in robotic technology for total joint surgeries since it launched in 2006.

Thanks to the Mako’s advanced technology, orthopedic surgeons with the CMH-OHSU Health Orthopedic Clinic can complete total hip, total knee and partial knee replacement surgeries with a more comprehensive view of a patient’s anatomy. As a result, they can be more precise.

Patients who are planning to have a Mako-assisted joint replacement need to get a CT scan before their surgery. Combining the CT results with the Mako’s software gives the surgeon a 3D view of the patient’s musculoskeletal structure, helping them know exactly what to expect before they even enter the operating room.

“A 2D x-ray is the standard imaging required for a typical, manual total joint procedure,” says Douglas Abbott, MD, CMH-OHSU Health orthopedic surgeon. “With the CT scan programmed into the Mako, we get a 3D view, which helps guide us to position the replacement parts with increased precision. Alignment can be better matched to the patient, with a goal of quicker recovery and better outcomes.”

Advanced technology will also enhance the BuildCMH Expansion Project

The BuildCMH Expansion Project, breaking ground in late 2024, will be augmented with the progressive Mako surgical technology, in addition to providing more space for surgical services.

Plans for the hospital’s expansion include an additional operating room, making a total of four major ORs at CMH, with the possibility and space to add a fifth to accommodate future surgical growth. There will also be another OR reserved solely for C-sections; a dedicated interventional radiology procedure space; and two endoscopy suites, doubling current capacity for endo procedures.

The new patient and operating rooms will be noticeably larger in square footage — able to support the most modern technologies. Pre- and post-surgical rooms will double in number to 16, adding to efficiency and allowing providers to see more patients.

“Our data shows that patients are still leaving the area for major surgeries that can be done here, close to home,” says Chris Laman, vice president of strategy. “With the increase of capacity within our surgical specialties, we’ll be able to serve more patients, more quickly, with the same high-quality health care our patients have come to expect from the providers and caregivers at CMH.”

Categories: Orthopedics