Orthopaedic Surgeon
specialising in Hip and Knee
Replacements

Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement removes the need for additional surgery in a complex case.

SW suffers with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and is on multiple drugs for this for many years. One of the side-effects of these drugs is osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). As a consequence, SW suffered a hip fracture after a fall 7 years ago. This was treated successfully with a nail (a long metal rod that it inserted into the marrow cacity of the thigh bone).

Although her fracture had healed very successfully, SW found it increasingly difficult to walk due to severe arthritis in her knee which was also becoming more deformed. She attended clinic in a wheelchair and in a lot of pain.

The only treatment option for her knee was a Total Knee Replacement. A standard knee replacement would only be possible by removing the nail in her thigh bone which would have necessitated a separate operation and exposed her to the risks of this additional procedure.

VELYS™ allowed us to carry out a Robotic Assisted Total Knee Replacement without having to remove the nail.

At the time of her follow-up appointment SW was very pleased to walk in without a wheelchair.