Dr. Thomas Fortney Performs First Robotic Assisted Total Shoulder Replacement

Dr Thomas Fortney & his NHOC team breaks new ground in first Stryker MAKO Shoulder Surgery In Northern New England.

Bedford NH – On December 3, 2025, Dr. Thomas Fortney and his team performed the 1st robotic-assisted total shoulder replacement at the Elliot Hospital in Manchester, NH. This marks the 1st robotic-assisted shoulder replacement in Northern New England (including NH, MA, ME, VT and RI). Dr. Fortney and New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center are proud to be the first in New Hampshire to offer Stryker MAKO Robotic Shoulder Surgery.

This recent achievement offers patients a higher level of surgical precision and accuracy versus other surgical methods, holding promise for future benefits including a more tailored approach for an individual’s specific orthopedic needs, improved results plus faster recovery times.

“This new technology allows for more precise and reliable positioning of the shoulder replacement components, which in turn should lead to consistently excellent outcomes for patients, ” said Dr. Fortney. “Robotic surgery has been very successful in hip and knee replacements, so we are excited to usher in a new era of robotics in shoulder surgery.”

Dr. Fortney completed a fellowship in shoulder, elbow and sports medicine surgery at Columbia University in New York City, a leading center for shoulder replacement surgery.