Post by Cabrini HEALTH

Last week, 72-year-old Sam Fein became the first patient in Metropolitan Melbourne to undergo a knee replacement using the new Velys robotic-assisted system. Harvard-trained Cabrini orthopaedic surgeon Mr Shay Zayontz performed the surgery at Cabrini Malvern, after taking delivery of Melbourne’s first Velys robot earlier this month. The Velys machine is the newest addition to Cabrini’s suite of surgical robots, expanding our patients’ and orthopaedic surgeons’ access to digital precision technology that can be personalised to the unique needs of every patient. “Every knee is quirky, because every knee is different,” Mr Zayontz said. “That's the advantage of robotic-assisted systems like the Velys. This particular system allows us to use data to help us to align the prosthesis in the knee to the patient’s personal ligament tensions, and we can make very specific cuts that then allow the prosthesis to match up exactly with the patient’s anatomy. It’s highly personalised surgery.” Just days after his Cabrini-first procedure, Sam is conscientiously doing his rehabilitation through Cabrini’s Rehab in the Home program, and being the model patient. “For two years now, my quality of life just hasn’t been there,” Sam said. “I’d have to ice my knees and take anti-inflammatories, and I was having injections every six months or so to deal with the pain. But having this surgery, I know I’ll have quality of life again.” More Cabrini patients will have greater access to robotic-assisted surgeries than ever before with the construction of four new operating theatres at Cabrini Malvern scheduled for completion in coming weeks. The construction of a new East Building over the next two years will further increase our capacity. “Demand for orthopaedic, cancer and cardiac care at Cabrini is projected to grow to about 150,000 patients annually by 2036,” said Louise Alexander, Executive Director – Cabrini Malvern and Brighton. “As we expand our services through our Next Era redevelopment, we’ll be providing access to care closer to home for so many more patients. But simultaneously, we have to keep pace with new and exciting technologies, including robotic-assisted systems, to ensure that once here, our patients are receiving the most advanced, specialised care available to them.” DePuy Synthes Andrew Wilkinson