AROUND 15 per cent of people who’ve undergone total knee replacement surgery are dissatisfied with the outcomes for a number of possible reasons, including prolonged discomfort, stiffness, instability, and a feeling of the knee not moving naturally.

One possible solution is the use of innovative technology like robotic-assisted knee replacement.

In the past, total knee replacement was associated with a prolonged hospital stay and a slow, painful recovery. Today, thanks to the evolving technology and surgical techniques — including advanced pain management — knee replacements have become one of the most successful surgeries in orthopaedic surgery in terms of restoration of quality of life and rapid recovery.

Osteoarthritis is one of the ten most disabling diseases in developed countries. Worldwide, estimates show that 10 per cent of men and 18 per cent of women aged over 60 have symptomatic osteoarthritis, including moderate and severe forms.

Dr Daniel Chan, chief of orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine and medical director for orthopaedic trauma at Memorial Healthcare System hospital in South Florida, has introduced a new robotic technology for improved precision in knee replacement that is customised to each patient.

The VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution is a new technology utilised by Dr Chan at Memorial Healthcare System which helps surgeons perform knee replacement surgery tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy in order to increase mobility, decrease pain, and minimise recovery time. This allows patients to return confidently to their normal, active lifestyle sooner and may improve long-term longevity of the knee.

The VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution can be a definitive treatment for conditions such as advanced osteoarthritis in which the layer of damaged bone and cartilage tissue around the knee is precisely removed and replaced with patient-matched implants.

One of its most significant advantages , ompared to traditional knee replacement, is the ability to make real time decisions prior to making any cuts during surgery, because this technology collects information about the patient’s bony anatomy and soft tissue tension in advance before committing to any bony cuts.

As Dr Chan explains, “This new robotic technology allows us to offer greater precision in terms of implant placement and soft tissue balancing for our patients, all in the hopes of improving patient outcomes… the robotic arm facilitates the multiple cuts necessary for knee replacement based on patient-specific anatomical landmarks and soft tissue tension while providing real time, intra-operative data that guide decision-making.

“Unlike other systems, the VELYS platform is completely imageless and does not require patients to go through the expense and radiation exposure of a pre-operative CT scan.”

Memorial Healthcare System is the first facility in South Florida to utilise the VELYS Robotic-Assisted technology for knee replacement — and patient outcomes have been exceptional.