Precision Milestone
In October 2025, Central Indiana Orthopedics announced a significant milestone. Dr. Brent M. Damer, a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with the practice, completed 1,000 robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement surgeries using Mako SmartRobotics technology. CIO was the first orthopedic group in Central Indiana to adopt the technology in 2016, and Dr. Damer has been using it consistently for nearly a decade.
“Mako technology has changed how we approach joint replacement,” Dr. Damer says. “It allows us to plan each procedure around a patient’s specific anatomy, preserve healthy bone and tissue, and be more precise during surgery. Ultimately, that helps patients recover more efficiently.”
Damer specializes in hip and knee arthritis, total hip replacement, total and partial knee replacement, and complex revision procedures. He joined Central Indiana Orthopedics in 2009 after completing extensive training that took him from the Midwest to the East Coast and back again. A native of northern Indiana, Dr. Damer earned his doctorate in osteopathic medicine at Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa. After medical school, he completed an internship in traditional osteopathy and a residency in orthopedic surgery at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. Dr. Damer completed additional fellowship training in adult reconstruction surgery at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
“I knew I wanted to come back to Indiana,” Dr. Damer says. “CIO offered the ability to practice at a high level while still being part of a community-based group.”
CIO’s use of robotic-assisted technology centers on detailed three-dimensional imaging that maps each patient’s joint prior to surgery. During the procedure, haptic feedback technology helps guide the surgeon within the preoperative plan, while still relying on surgical judgment and experience. According to CIO, many patients are able to return home the same day as their procedure, a shift that has shortened recovery timelines for appropriate candidates.
While technology plays an important role in modern joint replacement, Damer emphasizes that patient understanding remains central to successful outcomes.
“If patients do not understand their diagnosis or the reasoning behind a treatment plan, that plan is unlikely to succeed,” Dr. Damer says. “I spend a lot of time educating patients so they know what the problem is, what their options are, and what recovery realistically looks like.”
Dr. Damer sees patients primarily in the Muncie and Marion areas, with additional CIO joint replacement specialists in Anderson, Fishers and Zionsville. . CIO also operates walk-in orthopedic clinics in Anderson, Fishers, Zionsville, Muncie, and Marion, allowing patients with recent injuries to be evaluated without an appointment and directed to the appropriate specialist if further care is needed.
“That access matters,” Dr. Damer says. “It gives patients a clear entry point into care without delays.”
To help prevent injury, he keeps his advice practical. Staying active, maintaining strength around the joints, monitoring body weight, and following a balanced diet all play a role in long-term mobility. While supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may help relieve joint pain for some patients, there is no proven way to prevent or reverse osteoarthritis.
“Movement is important,” he says. “Strong muscles help support joints. Once arthritis is present, higher-impact activities like running and jumping may need to be reduced, but staying active in lower-impact ways is still beneficial.”
For runners and walkers, proper footwear and regular shoe replacement are critical. Dr. Damer notes that gait differences between treadmill and outdoor running can affect comfort, particularly in patients prone to iliotibial band irritation.
“The most important thing is wearing shoes that are fitted to your foot and replacing them regularly,” he says. “That alone can make a noticeable difference.”
After more than 16 years in practice and thousands of procedures, Dr. Damer says the most rewarding part of his work remains consistent.
“Helping people get back to living their lives without constant pain is what makes this job meaningful,” he says.
Outside the clinic, Damer and his wife have six children. Although he lives north of Anderson, much of the family’s time is spent throughout Hamilton County, where they attend local events and community activities.
To learn more about Dr. Brent M. Damer and the orthopedic services offered by Central Indiana Orthopedics, visit ciocenter.com. CIO has offices in Fishers, Anderson, Muncie, Marion, and Zionsville, with walk-in orthopedic clinics available in Anderson, Fishers, Zionsville, Muncie, and Marion for recent injuries that do not require an appointment. Additional information about robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement is available at ciocenter.com/mako.
