Orthopedic surgeon Sara Graves, M.D., M.S., clinical assistant professor of surgery

(February 29, 2024) Orthopedic surgeon Sara Graves, M.D., M.S., clinical assistant professor of surgery, spoke with WCAX-TV about a new robotic surgery system at the Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) in Berlin.

The Mako SmartRobotics system is expected to streamline minimally invasive surgeries, giving surgeons a more precise plan before they even make a cut. The arm of the robot is guided by the surgeon, increasing accuracy and precision and resulting in less pain post-procedure and quicker recovery times.

“We can end up with very precise cuts tailored to the patient’s anatomy,” Graves said. A CAT scan will be performed prior to surgery that allows for more comprehensive pre-planning, setting parameters for where the machine can and cannot make a cut. “There’s only so much you can see during the surgery of what the patient’s anatomy is, especially when we get into the 3D models. So, it will allow me to make sure I am fully executing the plan that we have given it,” Graves said.

CVMC, which is affiliated with the UVM Health Network, is the third hospital to add this technology to its operating rooms. Brattleboro Memorial Hospital was the first in 2018, and as of 2024, the UVM Medical Center has two.