As people age, a wide range of degenerative conditions become inevitable, including knee arthritis. Considered a common disease among the elderly, knee arthritis is inflammation and deterioration of the knee joint cartilage, which serves as a cushion enabling the knee to smoothly straighten and bend. Severe knee pain induced by knee arthritis often disrupts a patient’s quality of life with limited range of motion. Total knee replacement is an effective surgical treatment in which the painful damaged surfaces of the knee joint are removed and replaced with well-engineered bearing implants. The VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution consist of advanced technology to help the orthopedic surgeon perform knee replacement with enhanced surgical precision personalized to the specific anatomy of each patient, allowing them to get back to their desired life.

What is the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solutions?

VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solutions (VRAS) is the 4th generation of robotic-assisted devices deploying cutting-edge technology to assist the orthopedic surgeon in performing total knee replacement with improved precision and accuracy personalized for each patient’s specific anatomy. Fully controlled by the surgeon during surgery, the robot helps to provide surgical insights for real-time decision making with free movement and precise access to the affected knee joint. While operating, the robot helps the surgeon remove the damaged bone with accuracy while precisely pinpointing the implant position on the computer screen.

Since VELYS™ offers a special feature to secure surgical instruments in their appropriate positions, it aids in preserving surrounding soft tissue and minimizing possible complications. Moreover, VELYS™ uses an infrared camera and optical trackers to gather the necessary data about the individual’s knee anatomy, leading to personalized total knee replacement best suited for each patient. In addition, robotic-assisted technology delivers a greater range of motion after surgery with an increased implant lifespan.

Who are good candidates for the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solutions?

• Patients with knee arthritis due to advancing age 
• Patients with knee arthritis induced by non-aging causes, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis and accidents 
• Patients undergoing previous knee replacement with impaired knee function or movement

Special features of the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solutions

• CT-free technology: The VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution utilizes CT-free technology to help surgeons perform replacement procedures and place implants with precision and accuracy. The elimination of the CT scan results in shorter operative time and a higher degree of patient safety as the patients are not exposed to the radiation. 
• Real-time data system: The VELYS™ robot presents real-time intraoperative images using a high-speed camera and motion technology, providing insights for real-time decision making. It enables the surgeon to precisely remove arthritic cartilage and ensure balanced tension in the knee throughout the range of motion, allowing accurate positioning of the knee implant.
• Adaptive planning: The VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solutions helps the surgeon to plan and personalize alignment based on the patient’s specific anatomy, allowing an effective knee replacement best suited for each patient.

Why is the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solutions for personalized knee replacement?

• Enhanced surgical precision: The VELYS™ deploys state-of-the-art technology to provide surgical insights and aid adaptive planning, offering a higher degree of surgical precision. The robot enables the surgeon to adjust knee alignment while pinpointing the implant position within less than 0.5 mm. or 0.5 degrees of adjustment, considered the highest accuracy level performed in total knee replacement.   
• Fast recovery: Due to detailed images generated by the VELYS™, there is a shortened operative time with faster recovery and quick return to daily life.  
• Less pain: Total knee replacement using the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solutions is associated with reduced pain and fewer injuries to surrounding tissue around the knee, enabling the patients to move with a greater range of motion. 
• Personalized approach: As each patient has unique knee anatomy, robotic-assisted technology allows the surgeon to perform a personalized knee replacement with an appropriate implant position best suited for each patient. 
• Balanced tension:  With accuracy up to 0.5 mm or 0.5 degrees, robotic assistance using The VELYS™ system allows the surgeon to perform knee replacement surgery with less soft tissue damage. While working intraoperatively, knee alignment can be precisely adjusted, ensuring balanced knee tension around the tissue and ligament throughout the entire range of motion. 
• Minimized complications: Special features of The VELYS™ system help to secure surgical instruments and keep them in place, leading to less tissue and ligament inflammations and damage. 
• Increased implant lifespan: Since the knee implant can be positioned precisely, the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solutions helps to increase the longevity of knee implants.

Patient instruction prior to total knee surgery using the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solutions

Before total knee replacement, medical clearance conducted by a multidisciplinary team is required, ensuring optimal health prior to surgery. In case the patients are taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, these medications must be temporarily discontinued before surgery in order to prevent possible bleeding. It is important to keep the surgeon informed if the patients have any underlying conditions.

Patient instruction after total knee surgery

All instructions after total knee replacement must be strictly followed. Most of the patients are able to walk on the day of the surgery or within 24 hours after surgery. Recovery time takes approximately 1-2 days alongside a rehabilitation program to strengthen the knee joints after surgery.

What are possible risks related to the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solutions?

Operative risks might depend on each individual’s condition and disease severity. Ensuring that each patient is fit for surgery, orthopedic surgeon and multidisciplinary team need to extensively assess the patient’s overall health status.

Bangkok International Hospital – Specialized hospital in Total Knee Replacement using the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solutions

Hip and Knee Center at Bangkok International Hospital, a pioneer in joint replacement has established “Total Knee Replacement Program” certified by JCI, USA. Our highly experienced and well-trained orthopedic surgeons are specialized in total knee replacement using the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solutions. Supported by cutting-edge technology and multidisciplinary care, total knee replacement results in smaller incisions, less pain and fewer postoperative complications with faster recovery and quick return to daily life and activity.

References:

Dr. Phonthakorn Panichkul
Joint Reconstruction and Arthroplasty Surgeon, Hip and Knee Center, Bangkok International Hospital.