Orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Shay Zayontz using the Velys robot

When 72-year-old Sam Fein’s daily morning walk with his border collie reached a point where he needed a post-walk ice pack and anti-inflammatory medicine to perform even the simplest of daily tasks, he knew that a knee replacement was his only option – for both him and his energetic dog, Brodie.

A quick return to full activity post-surgery and improved quality of life were top of mind when Sam was considering his surgical options, so when Cabrini orthopaedic surgeon Mr Shay Zayontz recommended a knee replacement using a brand new Velys robotic-assisted system, Sam moved faster than he had in some time to book in.

Last week, Sam was Cabrini’s first patient – and the first patient in Metropolitan Melbourne – to have a knee replacement using the new Velys system. The surgery, which was supervised by experienced Velys-trained surgeon Mr Andrew Wilkinson, went exactly as planned, Mr Zayontz said.

Cabrini patient Sam Fein

“It went very well indeed,” he said. “Sam was on his feet on the same day as his surgery to start his rehabilitation and has been working with the physiotherapist each day since, and I fully expect him to be back at the park walking his dog in coming weeks.”

As technologies advance, patient demand for robotic-assisted systems is increasing because of its accuracy and reported faster recovery rates. The Velys machine is the newest addition to Cabrini’s suite of surgical robots, and the first in Metropolitan Melbourne, 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.”

Orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Shay Zayontz preparing for knee replacement 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 take anti-inflammatories and 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.

“And now, just one week since my surgery, I’m getting around using crutches. I know that I’ll be able to get back to my exercising and to walking around the block and playing at the park with Brodie again in the next few weeks.”

More Cabrini patients will have greater access to robotic-assisted surgeries than ever before with the construction of six 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.”

Read more about Cabrini Orthopaedic services