First knee replacement in Canada using new robotic device, another win for patients while fast-tracking the surgical backlog in Ontario

DePuy Synthes, the Orthopaedics Company of Johnson & Johnson, has partnered with Dr. Michael Zywiel of the Schroeder Arthritis Institute to perform the first knee replacement surgery in Canada assisted by a robotic device that helps the surgeon plan the surgery with more accuracy.

This new technology, known as the VELYSTM Robotic-Assisted Solution, helps address surgical backlogs that swelled during the pandemic and accelerate joint replacement treatments that patients cannot afford to wait for. The robot helps with faster recovery and more predictable outcomes for patients. It allows surgical teams to more accurately plan and execute surgeries, which results in less trauma to the knee and especially to all the ligaments and muscles in the knee. This is important because every patient’s knee is a little different and needs implants in a slightly different position.

 Dr. Zywiel says that using the device also increases the efficiency of the surgical team, with less instrumentation and OR time needed. Most importantly, it means that patients can get out of the hospital sooner, recover faster and return to the things they want to do in their regular life as fast as possible.

For more information: See the UHN Foundation article about this story here.