Residents in NSW’s South Coast region now have access to robotic knee replacement surgery technology close to home, with Nowra Private Hospital unveiling the region’s first VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution.
Robotic surgery offers a minimally invasive approach to surgery, allowing specialists to perform complex surgical procedures with increased accuracy and control than is possible through standard operative techniques.
The VELYS device uses an infrared camera and optical trackers to help surgeons gather the necessary patient anatomy data to position the implant in real time.
In February, Nowra local, Di Higginbotham was the first patient to have surgery with the new robot at Nowra Private Hospital.
Di decided to undergo a bilateral total knee replacement with Nowra Private Hospital Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr David Cossetto as she was suffering from osteoarthritis, bone spurs, cysts and bad knees.
“The hospital was brilliant, the physios were brilliant, the whole thing went very smoothly as far as I’m concerned”, Di said.
As for being the first person in the region to have surgery utilising the new technology. Di said “I think it’s brilliant, not having to travel to Canberra or Wollongong for this surgery. I think it’s excellent for local patients to have this option available to them.
Nowra Private Hospital CEO, Brendan Tai-Roche, said the hospital is passionate about providing high quality care and better outcomes for it’s patients.
“The investment in our new VELYS surgical robot shows Ramsay Health Care is committed to the people of the South Coast region and offering leading technological solutions designed to offer the best in patient care”.
Printed in the South Coast Register March 29, 2023
